Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will have often heard the phrase "a stitch in time saves nine". Does the Minister agree that setting up a commission on care is already too late in the cycle? The reality is that if people stay connected and active after they retire, they will have many years of good health and not come into the caring system at all. As Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan just asked about, the Minister has developed a comprehensive activation programme for people who are in the workforce but suddenly, once someone has left the workforce, the Department's activation falls away. Is it not logical that well ahead of talking about care, we try to keep people active, well and connected? The Minister's Department has a far better chance of doing so than the Department of Health.

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