Last month, the Taoiseach stated that he intended to hold an inquiry into the handling of Covid before the next general election and that its terms of reference would be published within weeks. One month later and there has been nothing. I do not often agree with the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, but I do when he says that, during Covid, nursing homes in Wicklow were left screaming out for help they did not get. It is important that there be a full module in the inquiry to examine what happened in nursing homes, including St. Bridget's Nursing Home in Crooksling, where 12 residents died of Covid after being moved to the Tymon North community unit in Tallaght despite a resident having been diagnosed with Covid just before the move. The residents’ families deserve to know the details of the events surrounding their deaths and such homes need to be included in the inquiry. When will the inquiry start, when will its terms of reference be published and will the Crooksling nursing home be included in the investigation?

I am very much aware that, at what was a very difficult time in our country and the world, many people in Ireland worked extremely hard to save lives. I am very proud of a lot of the work that was done during Covid. However, it is very important that, after any pandemic, there is a look-back, there are lessons learned and there are answers provided. We are reflecting on the terms of reference. I said that it would be within weeks, and we are still within weeks. I intend to bring those terms to the Government shortly.

Regarding St. Bridget’s specifically, once the terms of reference are clear, I suppose we will be able to ascertain whether that is the appropriate way or whether there are other ways for those families to get the answers or information they require.