Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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A gentleman is coming from the US to address the committee with an opening statement. If we have to let the Comptroller and Auditor General come back afterwards, we will do so. Out of courtesy to the person who is coming to assist the committee voluntarily, however, I want him to read his opening statement and I do not want any discussion until he is here this afternoon. I have no problem with the question but, out of courtesy, we should let him make the opening statement before we discuss it.

As Chairman, I can say that there are significant issues arising from the correspondence as we move along that we have not previously put to NAMA so when it is here next Thursday, in addition to responding to various remarks at various other meetings, there will be quite a number of new questions for it.

We will move on with the remainder of our correspondence. Category C is correspondence from or relating to private individuals and any other correspondence. Items 153 C(i) and (ii) concern an e-mail attaching a letter from Nursing Homes Ireland regarding the discrepancies in the fair deal fees paid to HSE nursing homes by comparison with their voluntary and private counterparts. I propose that we write to the HSE for a response in the first instance. However, the cost of nursing home care, the HSE, the private sector and how they interrelate, are certainly issues we will want to discuss as part of our work programme. We will certainly come back to that in our work programme for the new year.