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HEALTH MINISTER LEO Varadkar has said that the abuse of vulnerable patients at the Áras Attracta care home in Mayo is the worst he has ever seen.
However Varadkar said we cannot assume that what was broadcast by RTÉ’s Investigation Unit last week is the worst in the country, pointing out that the Swinford facility was well-staffed and had been the subject of inspections by HIQA.
“It’s certainly the worst that I’ve ever seen but how can we know for sure unless we carry out more undercover inspections,” the minister told TheJournal.ie in a wide-ranging interview yesterday.
He also outlined what more can be done to ensure such abuse does not take place in care facilities:
His words come as more than 200 people gather in Dublin for a summit to discuss the fallout from the scandal.
Managers of residential centres for people with intellectual disabilities will be joined by representatives for service users and advocacy groups, as well as personnel from HIQA, the Department of Health and the HSE.
Junior minister Kathleen Lynch and HSE director general Tony O’Brien will also give a speech to attendees. It is understood that O’Brien will talk more about undercover inspectors and encourage more whistleblowing.
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Do you have Sky or UPC. Doesn’t make a difference actually becuase they work for both company’s along with the ESB. Does this mean now that you are going to cut off your electricity becuase of the dreaded Dennis O Briens company works for them.
What’s your point Henry? The man has got his fingers stuck in as many pies as possible. He was deemed corrupt by the Moriarty Tribunal. We are entitled to shout “Stop”.
Where does it say that it doesn’t have to be passed to the regulator if INM buys it? Surely that would be MORE likely to happen given INM already own such a large array of media outlets?
upc has to have the worst customer service I have ever encountered. they might as well just call over and slap you in tbe face. between 9 and 1 and 1 a d 6 of course
It pays to read the whole article before commenting…
“Meanwhile, Independent News and Media (INM), in which billionaire Denis O’Brien is the biggest shareholder, has also been flagged as a possible TV3 buyer after the company said it planned to spend up to €100 million on acquisitions.
However the media company has since described the move as “highly unlikely” and added there hadn’t been any talks between INM and TV3′s owners.”
If INM have €100m to spend and TV3 was worth €265m in 2006, it seems unlikely they’d be able to afford it?
John Malone is as bad as DOB! Why the sudden interest in tv3 you may ask? It’s the only tv station that is not run with a hidden agenda and is not controlled by the powers to be! The main reason TV3 is wanted is because of Vincent Browne! He is outspoken has no axe to grind and puts irish politicians through their paces! The rest of the media are just a front for the government and the powers to be to tell the people only what they need to hear and hide the reality of what is really going on! As I said JM and DOB are of the same breed! Nuff said!!
Vincent Browne is the single best thing about TV3. He’s rare in Irish journalism in that he treats politicians of all parties (and none) in the same manner.
trump tv. it will just be about barac obama and weather he is an american citizen. right wing news glenn beck the guy who tries to legitimise the war on Palestine. no thank you between thegun loving texas ranger and the zionist. jesus they would do your head in give me Vincent Brown any day of the week no hidden agenda.
Dreadful TV station. Either that or the programmes are not aimed at my geographic. Most people I know don’t watch TV anyway. They are all over the Internet. The television era is coming to an end. The golden age has been way behind us for some time now. All things must pass.
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