Latest news with #NatashaNewsomeDrennan
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Our elders deserve dignity and the Government has a duty to protect its citizens – shock RTE programme showed failing
NURSING home group Emeis Ireland is under the spotlight following shocking revelations this week on an RTE Prime Time Investigates programme. It exposed multiple failings at Residence Advertisement 3 A new RTE investigation uncovered how residents were being treated in the nursing home Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Natasha Newsome Drennan has urged the government to take action to protect its citizens Credit: Wikipedia The Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA) is now reviewing all EMEIS homes, but it is a terrible indictment of the industry and not the first time abuse has been uncovered in EMEIS has apologised and said the findings were 'deeply distressing, wholly unjustifiable, and entirely unacceptable'. It has also launched a review. The HIQA investigation will hopefully unvcover the extent of the abuse but it is clear a lot needs to change. Older people should be treated with dignity and respect in their later years and their Advertisement READ MORE OPINION Here IRELAND'S older people deserve dignity – and the highest-quality care. What we have witnessed in the But sadly, this is not the first time we have seen scandals in the care sector. We have had the Emily Case, Brandan Case, Grace Case, Áras Attracta and many more. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Exclusive Breaking For over a decade, professional bodies, experts and advocates have pointed to weak regulation, failures in standards and an absence of safeguarding, all on the watch of This programme points to the need for better regulation of nursing homes and the need for adult safeguarding legislation. The Irish Association of Social Workers has demanded this for years, as has Sinn Fein. We need mandatory reporting of abuse and neglect, and a legal right of entry for social care teams to investigate individual complaints. BROKEN PROMISE Sinn Fein is committed to empowering older people to live independently, building a Advertisement We have advocated for a comprehensive social care policy to support independent living for people and groups with identified additional needs, including targeted funding to tackle loneliness and isolation, particularly among older people and people living alone. People deserve to live in their own But waiting lists for home support are growing and the promised statutory home-care scheme never materialised. Another broken promise by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Advertisement The State should support older people to 'age in place', through home support and adaptation grants. Long-term residential care should be available for those who want or need it, but it should not be the default option. Long-term residential care will, however, always be the appropriate care setting for some. Our ambition must be to provide assessable, afford-able, safe and quality care. REALISTIC PROPOSALS Sinn Fein has set out realistic, deliverable proposals to improve access to care for all our citizens. We proposed to mandate the Commission on Care to future-proof the model of care for aging. We would support family carers, as outlined in our Charter for Carers, and invest in day services for older people. Advertisement We would also support specific programmes for those with dementia, We also point to weaknesses in regulation which have led to a failure in standards in some care settings, and instances of neglect and abuse. This is intolerable — and it is a scandal that this Sinn Fein would urgently enact adult safeguarding legislation. This would provide a legal framework to support safeguarding, additional power for social workers and relevant social care professionals — and an agency, separate from the Advertisement We would legislate to provide a legal right of entry to any designated care centre for relevant social workers and social care professionals. We would also legislate for a care partner scheme similar to that which operates in the north of WAKE-UP CALL This scheme was highly successful at reducing isolation and improving health outcomes during the It gives a right to a family or friends acting as care partners to combat isolation and, during public health emergencies, assist in care-giving in residential facilities. HIQA regulation is not enough. We cannot dismiss abuse or neglect or adopt an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach. Our elderly citizens deserve to receive the highest quality of care and to be kept safe from harm. Advertisement We also need to invest in public nursing home capacity. Over 70 per cent of nursing home capacity is now private. But privatisation of nursing home care is wrong. We need to tip the balance back in favour of public capacity, with robust regulations and appropriate safeguarding. It is the duty of any Government to keep all citizens safe and protected from harm. Advertisement The Prime Time program is another wake-up call. We can no longer accept or tolerate sub-standard care or abuse and neglect of our elderly citizens. They deserve so much better. 3 It points to the need for better regulation of nursing homes and the need for adult safeguarding legislation Credit: Getty Images - Getty Advertisement
Agriland
23-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Sinn Féin: Commission ‘not concerned' for beef farmers over Mercosur
The impact of the Mercosur trade deal, between South American countries and the European Union (EU), on Irish beef farmers is 'not a concern for the EU Commission' according to a Sinn Féin TD. The party's TD for Carlow Kilkenny, Natasha Newsome Drennan, was speaking after a meeting between Oireachtas members and representatives of the European Commission on the Mercosur Trade Agreement at Leinster House this week. The controversial trade agreement would allow an additional 99,000t of beef enter the EU tariff-free from Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia. The political agreement will open up the EU market to goods from Mercosur, but limits imports from those countries of 'sensitive agricultural products' such as beef, ethanol, pork, honey, sugar and poultry. Natasha Newsome Drennan TD Mercosur Deputy Newsome Drennan said: ''I was shocked by their attitude, and at the utter lack of regard or concern expressed by the EU Commission representatives for Irish beef farmers. ''I outlined how across Ireland and the EU, farmers and those working in the agri-food sector adhere to the highest of environmental and animal welfare regulations, putting our produce at a world class standard – but this comes at a cost to the producer. 'Farmers that are already struggling with rising costs. ''I raised several concerns with the EU Commission representatives such as concerns around the [possible] presence of banned hormones in this imported beef and that the Irish beef sector could lose up to €130 million,' the Sinn Féin TD added. Deputy Newsome Drennan asked the European Commission representatives about what has been done to address concerns that cheaper imports from Mercosur countries could destabilise EU farmers thereby putting livelihoods at risk. ''With little to no concern shown for beef farmer, they acknowledged that beef farmers will suffer under this deal,' she continued. ''From their replies – it is clear that the commission [has] little to no concern for Irish beef farmers; little regard to the environmental damage that Mercosur will do. ''From what I can see, their main priority is to ensure the German car and chemical industry have unfettered access to these South America countries. ''We need to see the Irish Government taking a firm stand against Mercosur and start standing up for Irish farmers,' she concluded.
