People Before Profit TD and spokesperson on Health, Gino Kenny TD, today reiterated his call, at the Oireachtas Health Committee, for a full public inquiry into Covid nursing homes deaths.

The Dublin Mid-West TD said: “Today at the Health Committee I reiterated my call for a full public inquiry into what happened in nursing homes in this country at the start of the pandemic and beyond. During the first wave of this pandemic it was clear from countries such as Spain and Italy that nursing home’s and elderly people in these setting were at a particular risk from the virus.

“Our government was at best extremely slow in taking steps to put preventative measures in place in the Irish care home sector. Relatives and family members want answers as to what happened and the decision-making processes that occurred when it was clear that people living in nursing homes and care settings were extremely vulnerable. We need a full independent investigation into what happened.”