Must our voiceless in care depend on whistleblowers, unannounced HIQA inspections and RTE's "Prime Time" programme to expose the wholly unacceptable behaviour of some who work in our care homes and facilities? I know at first hand the great work that so many employed in these settings perform. I have a brother with an intellectual disability in a HSE care home. This drip, drip exposé of dreadful behaviour by some must also deeply hurt those who are true carers in these settings.

For all concerned, but especially for those who cannot speak for themselves, like my brother, this behaviour must be rooted out once and for all. In the case of Áras Attracta, HIQA had inspected, made recommendations, returned and felt that all had been addressed. These inspections are not enough and we cannot depend on them alone. A special RTE documentary to be broadcast tonight showing the RTE investigations unit's examination of the standards of care in an Irish residential care facility for adults with intellectual disabilities will once again raise this issue. The focus of tonight's programme is bungalow 3 at the Áras Attracta care home in Swinford, County Mayo. It is now the subject of investigations by the HSE, HIQA and An Garda Síochána following this exposé. A litany of 19 issues have been raised by the RTE investigations unit.

That home is geographically close to the Taoiseach, but the issues being raised are always close to me and my family, and to all families of loved ones with intellectual challenges in such placements. It is imperative that these matters are addressed. Accordingly, what real steps are the Taoiseach, his Government colleagues and the HSE going to take to ensure that this particular problem that presents time after time, in one incident after another is substantively addressed once and for all?

Let us ensure that we are not looking at people starting to believe that we have a culture of abuse of our most vulnerable in such care settings. As a sibling of one who is so placed, I do not accept that there is such a culture. We run the risk of people believing that, however, if we fail to take appropriate action. What action do the Taoiseach and his Government intend taking?

I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for his question. I know that from his personal family circumstances he can empathise in a situation like this so much more deeply than others who may not have those particular family circumstances.

I was called about this last week by the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, and I took her call with a sense of dread and anger. I have since been briefed on it by the Minister for Health. I believe I speak for the whole country when I say that the idea that men and women with intellectual disabilities would be slapped or sat on - as I understand is shown in the footage of this programme - is utterly intolerable and unacceptable to us as a Government and as a people. Every person who uses our disability services is entitled to receive supports of the highest standards and to live in an atmosphere and environment of safety and care. There is no excuse - none whatever - for abuse or conduct in the circumstances that I understand have been outlined. I have not seen footage of the programme but I intend to watch it later on this evening or tomorrow morning.

The HSE alerted the Garda Síochána and HIQA immediately. In the interests of protecting residents and staff themselves, it put a number of staff off duty while the allegations are being investigated. I support the HSE's immediate initiation of an expert investigation into these serious allegations, which is chaired by Mr. Christy Lynch who is the CEO of KARE, whom the Deputy may know. He independently chaired the review of services provided at this facility, led by Dr. Kevin McCoy who is a former chief inspector of the Northern Ireland Social Services Inspectorate.

The director general of the HSE wrote to all the staff emphasising the serious responsibilities on them personally to ensure that individuals supported by the HSE in any setting are treated with respect and dignity. He also reminded them of their absolute duty to report incidents of maltreatment or poor practice concerning any person. As the Minister has said, the HSE is also planning to initiate its own undercover investigations into operations in HSE facilities to supplement the programme of inspections already in place. We had this before with Deputy O'Dowd a number of years ago in the Leas Cross situation.

The Minister has been fully briefed and has assured me that instructions have been given to the HSE to keep both himself and the Minister of State fully informed. I have also been assured that the HSE's priority is to protect the valued services that people residing in Áras Attracta receive as a critical support for them and their families.

I recall when this place was opened. As the Deputy rightly points out, there are many people who work in the health service who do an excellent job and provide a first-class service. This kind of activity does them down, ruins the reputation of health care workers and is an insult to the wider family of the persons involved. Let me assure the Deputy, the House and the families of those in Áras Attracta and elsewhere that the law will follow its course. HIQA, the HSE and the relevant Minister are fully involved in following through this, as are the Garda. It may well be that criminal charges may arise from this. That is a matter for the authorities involved.

There were 59 recommendations made in respect of the HIQA investigation into the facility and they have all been implemented. Two practice co-ordinators have been assigned to Áras Attracta, effective from 2 December 2014, reporting directly to the director of services and liaising with the national head of operations and service. I have provided the names of the investigators there and the assurance review team.

I know the facility, which is close to me. Unfortunately, this is another incident in a long line of incidents over the years. As the Minister indicated, the HSE will have its own undercover investigation team. RTE should be commended for the service it has carried out in this regard and I hope the investigations, when complete, will be followed through. There is no place in our society for this kind of conduct.

The Taoiseach has made the point about Áras Attracta and other settings. This is important as that is at the core of the issue. This is not only about Áras Attracta. This is not an isolated incident and there has been a range of other settings exposed for malpractice over these years. The critical matter is not just the address of the individual care home setting. There is a need for a root-and-branch re-examination of the level of training, management and oversight right across the board. That is what is required. As I have stated, I do not accept that everything is being done. Real steps must be taken.

I noted the commentary of Mr. Tony O'Brien, the director general of the HSE, with regard to wider use of undercover surveillance but that is such a reactive step under the assumption that things are wrong. We must take the required steps to ensure the highest standards are understood in the first instance and implemented by those we trust to look after those defenceless loved ones in our respective families. My brother is non-verbal and I can understand what was said earlier today by the sibling of one of those who will be most particularly focused upon in tonight's programme. These people are incapable of voicing or giving expression on whatever treatment they are being subjected to. It is a terrible position to be in. It creates great fear for families, especially for parents and siblings. They do not know the truth of each day of the lives of their loved ones.

Mr. O'Brien's point is well taken but that is not the full answer. We must examine care settings right across the board and instill through retraining and uptraining the highest standards in the first instance in management and oversight in every care setting in the land. Will the Taoiseach take that on board?

I will take it on board and the Deputy can rest assured that the Government will support the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, and the HSE in carrying out a proper evaluation of the entire process. The HIQA inspectorate and the HSE complaints are clearly inadequate in the case that has arisen in Áras Attracta. The first response was to the families directly affected by those persons with intellectual disability in the particular unit. All of the others were written to on 1 December and meetings were initiated with 56 other family groupings. They have all been offered meetings but some did not require a meeting, having been assured by telephone that the relevant family member was not in this specific unit.

I take the Deputy's point that there is no argument against this. It can be trying in many of these circumstances. The Deputy speaks from a fraternal perspective but I cannot speak in the same depth of understanding of what it means 24 hours a day. I assure the Deputy that having raised the matter, this is not acceptable under any circumstances. The analysis being carried out by the HSE, HIQA, the Minister and the Minister of State will have the support of the Government. The authorities are involved and the Garda are investigating the matter. It is one of a number of investigations which I expect to be carried through by the authorities.

The point made by the Deputy is a central issue, as this is probably not an individual or isolated case. We have seen similar cases in the past, and it is now a case of attempting to deal with the entirety of the issue in a way that stands up to the utmost scrutiny and standards. These particular and very special people and their families should be guaranteed to live in an environment of comfort, care and consideration, with those who serve them living up to the highest standards set by the principles of the HSE. I thank the Deputy for his question.