Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The HSE advised residents in long-term care, and some of their advocates, that they were not eligible under the health repayment scheme. That was the signal that was sent out. Some institutions, like Cheeverstown, St. Michael's House, the Sisters of Charity and another one in Limerick that I am not aware of, took the case. They must have been under extreme pressure taking the case because there would have been ramifications if they lost. It might have had long-term implications for the institution and impact on possible funding down the line. They should be commended. The State folded on that. There is potentially €360 million here. Given that 500 people got €20 million, if we work it out I think we can come up with a figure of about 9,000. Mr. Watt has said that not all those 9,000 would necessarily apply for that. We hope that within three months' time we will have a better picture.

To go back to the issue of whether it was fair or just, I still think about those families. They may have gotten €40,000 but no one has talked about the solicitors and legal people and so on. It sounds like a huge amount of money but if you break that down over the number of years people were paying this money, it is probably a handful of euro per day. It sounds a huge amount and I know it is State money and money was hard to come by in those days, and still is for many families. The people who are going to get that in the majority of cases will not be going off and spending it on holidays or anything else. It will be reinvested in the care and support of those families. That is the main point I want to make. It was not an unjust payment. Clearly the State accepted that they were entitled to it. The big question is about the ones we left behind, the ones who were recommended not to take the case and did not take it. They are the ones I presume we are really concerned about. I accept what Mr. Watt is saying about the fact that he cannot make a decision and that it would be for politicians and so on. If we go back to being fair and just, there should be some sort of redress for those people who were given that advice, which was clearly wrong. Am I right? I am not leading Mr. Watt; I am just trying to walk through the system.