Fine Gael attacks Government over timing of report's release

OPPOSITION CRITICISM:FINE GAEL has described the Government's decision to publish the McCarthy report on the same day as a report into the treatment of residents at Leas Cross nursing home in Swords, Co Dublin, as a disgrace.

Fergus O’Dowd, the party’s spokesman on transport, said he was disgusted by the decision, which he said was insulting and would see the findings of the Leas Cross inquiry overshadowed.

“This inquiry has cost over €2 million and has been with the Government since June,” he said.

“But the only day they could pick to publish it is the same day as the report most calculated to dominate media and public attention.”

The nursing home closed in August 2005 following an undercover RTÉ television Prime Time Investigates programme, which raised concerns over the treatment of people living there.

In April 2007, Minister for Health Mary Harney initiated an investigation into the home’s management, operation and supervision.

Barrister Diarmuid O’Donovan was the sole member of the commission. He was due to publish his report last September, but the Government agreed to extend the deadline to the end of 2008.

“After all the promises from Government on Leas Cross that we have been hearing since 2005, this is the final insult,” Mr O’Dowd said. “It strongly suggests an attempt to deflect attention from the report rather than revealing all so that we can learn the lessons needed to protect older people in nursing home care.”