Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has strongly criticised the Government’s “late-in-the-day and weak” COVID review, which will not have the powers to compel witnesses and documents where someone fails to cooperate. 

Ms McDonald said that powers of compellability may be needed to get closure and transparency for the many bereaved families, who have been stonewalled by a select number of nursing homes where there were extreme problems during the pandemic.

Ms McDonald said:

“What the government is proposing does not have the confidence of many bereaved families. They need to know that this will not be a whitewash.

“It is essential that the Covid review is independent and empowered to establish what happened. This does not appear to be the Government’s approach.

“There is significant concern that the Covid review will not have the necessary powers to establish all of the important facts.

“Compellability is necessary to deliver transparency, closure, and accountability. This is not about finding someone to blame but uncovering the truth for bereaved families who are being shut-out and ignored.

“Three years ago, Sinn Féin called for a full public inquiry with the powers to compel witnesses and documents.

“We have always felt that this would be necessary to bring transparency and closure for families affected by Covid deaths in healthcare facilities, particularly in a limited number of uncooperative nursing homes – both public and private.

“Sinn Féin supports a transparent review into the handling of Covid-19 in public and private residential care homes. Access to records, closure for affected families, and the unnecessary isolation and substandard care experienced in some care homes must be definitively addressed.”

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD added:

“The Government has also failed over its term to address the very real legal gaps in adult safeguarding.

“In 2017, former Senator Colette Kelleher, followed in this term by Senator Frances Black, sponsored comprehensive adult safeguarding legislation which the Government has not cooperated with. 

“Similarly they have failed to enact Care Partner legislation to give effect to a scheme similar to that which we have in the North, which ensures access at all times for designated family or friends. 

“A major learning from the pandemic was the importance of the watchful eye of family and social workers. The care partner scheme in the North was highly successful at reducing isolation and improving health outcomes. 

“Similarly, we know that social workers and safeguarding teams are in real need of legal right of access where there are concerns of neglect or abuse. Simon Harris and his Government have decided to ignore this.

“Necessary powers of compellability, safeguarding laws, and a care partner scheme are very basic and reasonable asks. It is highly disappointing for many bereaved families which I have spoken to that the Government has failed on all three fronts.”