Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 12, line 49, to delete “15 days” and substitute “10 days”.

I guarantee the Ceann Comhairle that I will not delay proceedings. Section 53C provides for charges to be raised in respect of acute public inpatient services in public hospitals at a rate of €80 per day, which is up from €75. The Department has stated that the new maximum will be €800 per calendar year, which is an increase of €50. However, the Bill allows the Minister to set the number of days for which the charges will be payable up to a maximum of 15. If the maximum number of days were chargeable, then the total amount for which a person would be liable in a calendar year would increase from the current €750 to €1,200. This represents an increase of 60%. We have a major difficulty with the fact that even though the Minister has stated that the maximum will be €800 per year, the Bill will allow him at any given time in the future to increase the maximum number of days from ten to 15. As indicated, this will increase the total amount due to €1,200. The power to increase charges will left completely in the hands of the Minister of the day. Even if we accept the current Minister's bona fides in this regard, there is no guarantee as to what one of his successors might do. We are of the view that if he or his successors wish to increase the charge at some point in the future, they should be obliged to return to the Dáil and debate the matter. It is for this reason that amendment No. 9 has been put forward.

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