Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe as a gcur i láthair. Their work is important. A large number with whom I have engaged over the past number of years have found that nursing homes or hospitals are not for them and that they need care at home. It offers them much dignity and peace of mind. It is a good environment in general if one is able for it to be cared for at home if it is possible to do so. The State should be doing its utmost to ensure that, where persons select the option, it provides a service for them at home. I also believe that many of the workers they employ do sterling work in delivering that home care.

I will be honest. From my perspective, I believe in a public rather than a private health service. I do not believe in a two-tier system whereby those who have the funds can access the service. I also have a worry that where there is a profit motive in the provision of a health service, it can often, as we have seen in certain crèches and nursing homes, change the nature of delivery of service.

I am shocked that there is no formal regulation of this sector. The Joint Committee on Health and Children is probably the place for that to be developed. No doubt there should be strong regulation.

I read some of the documentation that we received It goes through the normal diary of a person's day and indicates that the client may be resting for a period of time and that the staff member would not be paid for that, perhaps if the client is asleep for the hour. Even the worker might be asleep for the hour. Sometimes I see Deputies and Senators here asleep for an hour and I think perhaps they should not get paid for that hour either.

I would be strongly against an on-site employee not being in a position to contract himself or herself out to gain a wage elsewhere or not being in a position to be with his or her family or to use his or her free time as normal. I would be strongly opposed to any move to reduce the welfare of such an individual. No doubt there is a conundrum regarding what is affordable and yet fair to the worker.

It is important that we try our best together to make sure it is affordable and also fair to the worker. It is not fair to ask a staff member not to be paid for working on site.

What is the average that the delegates' organisation pays staff for home care? How does it compare with that in other sectors of the industry, including the public, NGO and not-for-profit sectors? There is no doubt but that all care must be developed more in the public fashion to ensure the needs of the patient or client are uppermost, that provision is on the basis of need, and that the staff members are properly compensated for their efforts.