Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State mentioned that we had the harmonised index of consumer prices and that we needed certainty, but that index only measures the price of consumer goods and does not take into account inflation or changes in medical or carer's costs. I agree that we need certainty, but the Minister of State is only referring to certainty for the Department in terms of how much it might have to pay out. If we do not take these amendments on board, there will be no certainty for people in need if they do not know how inflation or increases in medical or carer's costs will be dealt with down the road.