Rosalie unit future
Senator Ó Clochartaigh supported debate on undocumented Irish and then raised concerns about the Rosalie unit in Castlerea and accreditation issues at RCSI Bahrain. The Cathaoirleach suggested the issue might be better suited to a Commencement debate.
Ba mhaith liom tacú go huile is go hiomlán leis an mhéid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Ó Dálaigh maidir leis an dream i Meiriceá atá i bhfaitíos ós rud é nach bhfuil a fhios acu cá seasann siad ó thaobh an stádais atá acu sa tír sin. I support what Senator Mark Daly said about the undocumented and would support a debate on this important matter.
I again draw the attention of the Leader to the issues around the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, Bahrain and accreditation being given to doctors there. We need to discuss the decision of the Medical Council to grant unconditional accreditation to RCSI Bahrain which made no reference to the human rights situation in Bahrain and its impact on local training hospitals used by the college. We need the Minister to clarify that relevant national and international standards used by the Medical Council require the consideration of such things as patient safety, appropriate supervision, a safe learning environment for students, educational outcomes, medical ethics, human rights and social accountability. It is imperative that we uphold the best international standards around human rights. If bodies here are accrediting agencies and hospitals in places such as Bahrain we must ensure that those standards are upheld. A debate on the issues I have raised would be important.
Another important issue is who in charge of Irish Water. In 2009 a family moved into a house in Connemara and connected to the local authority water system, but have never had a proper supply of water. We spent the past two and half years contacting Irish Water to try to alleviate the situation. The family has three small children and in the past week they spent five days without any water. We keep getting fobbed off by Irish Water. We were told that there is a temporary issue in the local area and supply has decreased but, to be quite honest, that is nonsense. There is a need for a specific fix for this situation. Irish Water is reneging on its duty to supply water to customers.
It raises the broader issue of accountability in respect of Irish Water. I am sure everybody here is using the Oireachtas Members' line on a regular basis to contact Irish Water. We receive a pleasant email from whoever happens to answer the call on the day, but one cannot find out who is responsible for what is happening in a local area regarding sewage or water. We used to have regular clinics in the House whereby Irish Water officials would come in and we could ask them very specific questions about what was going on. I do know not know its plans for regional areas and regional water and sewerage issues in the Connemara or Galway areas. A number of years ago we heard it had a specific plan around regional issues but we have not heard anything from it since. There is a significant lack of transparency, responsibility and sense of who is in charge, what the money is being spent on and why there are so many issues across the water system. It is not just a lack of investment or money being spent. We need to know what it is doing, what its plans are and how we can hold to account to make sure those things happen. I call for a debate on the issue.
Comment on this
I want to raise a very serious issue in regard to the Rosalie unit in Castlerea. I have raised this issue before and asked questions for many months. When one does not get replies, it causes one to ask even more questions. We had a meeting with the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, and HSE chief official, Tony Canavan, yesterday on the current and long-term future of the unit. The unit supports residents in long-term care who have mental health difficulties. It was initially a 33-bed unit and it now has only 12 residents. I finally received replies to questions I asked in November.
I came to the conclusion that there were very serious issues and that was following many family discussions. We received evidence that there have not been new admissions since 27 September 2016. My impression from last night's meeting is that the future of the Rosalie unit is not positive. Tony Canavan, the chief health officer, gave absolutely no commitment that there was a long-term future for it. He also said that it would not be opening to new admissions. I am very frustrated because the HSE seems to be attempting to close the unit, not inform us, not be honest and open with the public and public representatives. I was at a meeting in 2015 when this issue arose and the then Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Kathleen Lynch, gave us a very clear commitment that the residents within that unit would be able to stay there and that there was a long-term future for the delivery of services within that unit. That has been called into question now. I want a solution to be focused on serving and supporting people in our area. Residents are likely to have to move to Ballinasloe which is 61 km away. We want services in our area. I am asking that the HSE deliver that and that it listens to us and is honest with us.