Last year-----

I beg your pardon.

I did not say anything.

Last February, my party leader and I wrote to the Taoiseach asking about the status of the pandemic inquiry into nursing homes. In his response, he said that a scoping inquiry would be established. We had asked that there would be sufficient engagement with organisations like Care Champions, the Irish Association of Social Workers, Safeguarding Ireland and others as well as briefings and discussions with the Opposition and party leaders to ensure the terms of reference for that scoping inquiry are robust.

Can the Taoiseach inform the House where we are with that inquiry? When are we likely to see it? Will he confirm that there will be sufficient engagement with all stakeholders in advance of any terms of reference being established for that inquiry?

I am sorry; Deputy O'Dowd is not on my list, but he may go ahead.

There are almost 2,000 wards of court. These are people who the court has decided are unable to look after their own financial and other affairs. The court oversees investment of approximately €1.5 billion to look after their needs but there have been significant losses. My colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, has called for an inquiry into an audit into these funds. Because they are under the jurisdiction of the courts, I ask that the Government make up any of the significant losses these vulnerable people have suffered.

I thank the Deputies. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, to answer the question on horse control.

The scoping exercise and pandemic inquiry has now advanced. I have not seen it yet, but I am told it is close to conclusion and after that, we will have engagement with stakeholders and the Opposition on the terms of reference. I should say that the purpose of the pandemic inquiry in Ireland will be to look at the general response to the pandemic, not specifically nursing homes, although that will be part of it. We want to have an inquiry that is about working out what we did right, what we could have done better and what we did wrong. It is not about pursuing individuals. We do not want to go down the route of the one in the UK, which will go on for years and probably achieve very little in our view.

Deputy O'Dowd's question speaks to elder abuse. I thank him again for always keeping that on my agenda and that of the House. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act was commenced in April. As the Deputy is aware, the commencement of both Acts replaces the wards of court system with a new rights-based system of supported decision-making. Importantly, adults currently in wardship will now transition to the new decision-making support arrangements on a phased basis over the three years from the date of commencement. As part of this, the circumstances of every individual will be examined by the courts as part of this transition. I will make sure the Deputy's proposal and that of Senator Seery Kearney is considered by the relevant Departments in this context.