Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

With regard to what Deputy Healy-Rae said, I consider this a good day for this Government. This is the first time this committee has met to deal with something like this. It means the Ombudsman has a committee that can take her genuine concerns and act upon them. People talk about the things that have not been done by this Government but this is one reform that was promised and we are here delivering on it, although clearly, none of us would wish to be here. None of us would wish to be having a consultation with the Department of Health about illegal operations or activity by the Department.

I remind the committee of what the Ombudsman said when she appeared before the committee. She said: "I feel I should inform the committee that the Department of Health has a long history of, to put it mildly, carelessness about the law, and this has been the case irrespective of which political party or coalition has been in government. My predecessor Ombudsmen and myself have seen this at close quarters and I would like to recall for members of this committee just three examples of this carelessness." She went on to cite the nursing homes support scheme and the health repayment scheme.

Already, both schemes in their illegality have cost the State €506 million, a not inconsiderable sum. Some 850 people are taking High Court proceedings against the HSE in respect of the Who Cares? scheme. The Ombudsman said: "I noted that there appears to be an approach of intentional delaying tactics so as to delay cases coming to hearing." On all fronts, these are serious statements made by the Ombudsman. They are related to the two issues but separate. I am delighted to hear the Department of Health will put a new scheme in place. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has always shown her concern for those with disabilities. It will take time but I would like to know the timeline. The Minister referred to six months, which is optimistic, but the Ombudsman would be delighted with a six month timeline given the delays.

I would like to ask the Secretary General and the Minister what they think of the observations of the Ombudsman in December when she referred to the carelessness about the law and why we have no money if we have spent at least €500 million compensating people in the courts. What are we doing spending money in the courts when we could spend the money on citizens who need the services?