Gerry Adams wants an independent inquiry into all care facilities for people with intellectual disabilities.
It comes as the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) this week published a report on the Redwood Extended Care Facility in Co Meath.
HIQA reported that the rights of patients at the centre were not being met.
An inspection, carried out by HIQA, showed a high number of frequent and intensive physical interventions and restrictive measures were used in the facility in Stamullen on a regular basis.
HIQA says it was notified of 772 such incidents in an 11 month period.
The high level of restrictive practice and restraint used included locked doors - both internally and doors that exited the centre - and residents being confined to specific rooms, sometimes for significant periods of time.
Mr Adams says these people must be protected:
