Interpellation concerning events in care homes (No. 571)
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, third session, plenary session
Date: 2024-05-27 22:14
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 29
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 38m
AI Summaries: 29/29 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Inquiry No. 571 by members of the Riigikogu addressed the numerous cases of inhumane treatment, violence, and neglect in Estonian care homes that came to light in 2023, citing Värska Südamekodu and Viimsi Pihlakodu as examples. The questioners (from the EKRE faction) criticized the decline in service quality despite rising prices and highlighted the connection between problematic care homes (especially the Südamekodud chain) and members of the Reform Party, suggesting political bias in the lack of proper supervision.
Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo responded by emphasizing that supervision must be impartial and non-political. She detailed measures to strengthen oversight, including the allocation of 300,000 euros to the Social Insurance Board (SKA) for creating new positions, and the formation of a working group between the police and the SKA to prevent cases of violence. The Minister confirmed that incidents of abuse and theft fall under the jurisdiction of the police and that employees found guilty have been removed from their jobs. She dismissed accusations of widespread violence in care homes, noting that her personal visits had left a rather positive impression. The opposition remained dissatisfied with the responses, accusing the Minister of callousness and a lack of empathy, and demanding concrete answers regarding the accountability of those responsible and the revocation of operating licenses.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Most Active Speaker
Mart Helme (k2Jg87FGsDs) was the most active speaker, posing critical questions and delivering an emotional closing speech in which he accused the minister of a lack of empathy and political recklessness. He represents the right-wing opposition.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu is debating today's final interpellation concerning the situation in care homes, submitted on September 12, 2023 (Interpellation No. 571). Colleague Kert Kingo is the rapporteur.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
In her speech, Kert Kingo highlighted the cases of neglect and violent treatment that occurred in nursing homes during 2023–2024. She questioned the minister regarding the actions taken to resolve these issues, the accountability of those responsible, and the status of on-site inspections, while simultaneously emphasizing that prices are rising, quality is falling, and the reforms fail to provide reliable care for loved ones.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience and now hands the floor over to the minister, inviting Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo to respond.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
The presentation highlighted that strengthening the oversight of welfare institutions will involve implementing prior inspections, checks on compliance with operating license requirements, and state and administrative supervision. These steps, coupled with training, increased staffing levels, and close cooperation with the police and local authorities, are intended to prevent neglect and violence, improve service quality, and protect clients' rights.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the minister, announced that the 15 minutes were up, and moved on to questions—Helle-Moonika Helme, please.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He emphasizes that the supervision of care homes is their responsibility, referencing the case of Pirita Südamekodu and its ties to the Reform Party. He then asks what steps they plan to take to clarify the matter, when they will go to the site, and who the culprits are.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that the guardian's property thefts are not isolated incidents and that this is a police case. He also emphasized that the minister does not intervene in the supervision of general care homes, and that supervision must be impartial and carried out using a uniform methodology by a team consisting of two to five specially trained individuals.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invites Mart Helme to speak.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme is asking, based on an interpellation filed eight and a half months ago, what the current status is of the investigation into the irregularities and abuses associated with the Rosimannus and Kukk individuals, and whether these accused parties are still employed, whether anything has changed, and whether e-voting via ID cards, when controlled by the owners of the Reform Party, remains an issue, and whether the cases have reached a resolution.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stressed that while he does not intervene in specific cases or the operations of the police or the prosecutor's office, he is addressing instances of negligence, abuse, and recently, theft. In these cases, individuals have been temporarily suspended pending clarification of the circumstances, and some have resigned. Although the police, the prosecutor's office, and the courts operate on their own schedules, and he cannot prescribe deadlines for their proceedings, the Social Insurance Board is required to conduct a comprehensive oversight, which entails on-site visits, interviews with staff and clients, issuing mandatory precepts, and, if necessary, follow-up monitoring and penalty payments.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo is accusing the Reform Party-led sector of care and welfare services of failing to meet safety requirements and providing poor oversight, citing the Chancellor of Justice's official mandates and questioning why the issues continue.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
This is a brief and direct request to invite Kert Kingo to speak.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo confirmed that state and administrative supervision must be politically impartial. He explained the procedural steps, the deadlines for rectifying deficiencies, and the possibility of imposing a coercive fine or revoking the operating license. He further stressed that he must not be associated with any single service provider or interfere in anyone's business affairs.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invited Martin Helme to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme emphasizes that oversight must not be politically biased, and the absence of such oversight indicates bias. He demands concrete examples and data: specifically, how many people have been suspended from work, whether institutions have been shut down or had their licenses revoked, and whether money has been reclaimed, in order to demonstrate what real, genuine supervision looks like in his sector.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo emphasized that oversight is carried out closely and frequently, and in the event of violations, employees are immediately removed. He cited Lille Kodu as an example, where the service was terminated and the guilty parties were dismissed—the goal being safe and high-quality care (2023: 28 general care facilities; 2024 first half-year: 20 general care facilities and 15 follow-up inspections).
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Varro Vooglaid to take the floor.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid is inquiring about a specific case at the Värska Südamekodu care home, where a man named Aavo was mistreated and found lying in bed in his own urine. He asks whether a supervisory investigation has been conducted, who is responsible, whether the operating license has been revoked, and what results have been achieved.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that some individuals have likely been removed from their jobs and the culprits have apparently been dismissed, but he does not deal with individual cases or discuss the specific incident publicly because the situation is not straightforward, and there are several different underlying circumstances.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The address called upon Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler stresses that the minister needs to receive specific updates on the status of the investigations and must demonstrate political leadership. He urges the minister to boldly question the investigative bodies, citing the Laanet case in the context of the Lehtme probe, and maintains that this action is not interference in the investigation.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo emphasized that the goal is prevention: to establish processes and ensure supervision, counseling, training, and mentoring so that similar incidents do not recur in the future across the 200 general care homes. Furthermore, we are learning from these negative experiences for the purpose of prevention.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanked the Minister for the report and the answers, announced that the questioning period was concluded, and opened the debate by inviting Mart Helme to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme is accusing the government of the recurrence of abuses in care homes, citing a lack of empathy and responsibility. He notes that training sessions will not change the situation and that the responsibility shared between the ministry and the police has been carelessly dispersed.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas asks if you would like extra time.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speech finally mentions people who are completing the life card.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas asks the presenter if he needs more time.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme calls the situation shameful and detrimental to the entire country, concluding with the words "Thank you" and "I don't want it."
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas offered his thanks, noted that the address had run almost half a minute over the time limit, and stated that next time extra time would be permitted, though not more than 25 seconds. He added that there were no further requests to speak and closed the discussion, concluding that the query had thus been answered.