Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to labour the point, but if a person is staying in a hotel and paying for a room, there is a good chance he or she will expect it to be clean, the lights and heating to be turned on and have a porter in the hotel if they come in after hours. The point is that this is not happening in many cases. For example, the shortage of community geriatricians is a sad indictment of how we look to protect older people. I accept fully that services are under pressure, but in key areas in which the HSE is providing care for individuals who are making a contribution, it should be obligated to ensure they receive the proper medical services they require, which include physical therapy and speech and language therapy services and that there is the recruitment of geriatric specialists and community geriatricians. It is an observation because it is having an impact on the quality of care for individuals bearing in mind the fact that they are making a contribution to its cost and that this legislation is putting it on a statutory footing.