John Dennehy (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

That would not be viable and would not help other areas of the health service. Many people such as carers need assistance. We must use our money to the best possible advantage.

As Deputy Olivia Mitchell stated, we were all concerned at the amount of money being taken in the past. Everyone who served on a health board has had that worry and voiced it in the past. We need to make changes and move on. It is essential that we have a level of charge. I hope the matter can be quickly dealt with and that the people who in the past made a great deal of money from Army deafness claims and other matters will not be the ones to benefit from this issue. It was amazing how quickly the legal profession had advertisements in place — they were in place almost as soon as the court decision was made. I found that a bit depressing.

I do not advocate a one-party approach. No doubt we will have arguments as people will hold different opinions. I will voice my concerns at parliamentary party meetings, with Ministers and decision makers. We must have the debate on the future care of the elderly.

I read a timely article today by Liam O'Sullivan, the national development officer for Care Alliance Ireland in today's Irish Examiner which referred to that organisation's upcoming conference. It asks questions such as whether we want to live in a society where care of elderly and vulnerable people is provided mainly by paid care workers. I will leave that question hanging. It also asks a number of other questions such as whether we want to facilitate people to stay at home. Every report on the subject has concluded that the elderly wish to be in their own homes and their own environment.

Although it is not always possible because of medical reasons, we must try to provide for this. We must have a debate about what can be done, who will fund it, how much it will cost and what is the best way in which to spend the money. All Deputies will support this Bill because they all accept there must be some level of charge. We need to divert money into different aspects of the care of the elderly.

The article to which I referred is a very balanced piece in which compliments are paid to the Government for its initiatives as well as criticism where it is due. Anyone interested in this Bill would do well to read it. We must increasingly examine this issue. We know that our elderly population will grow in number, that the dependency level will increase and that there is a shortage of long-term care beds and funding for carers. We also know within reason how much money will be available this year and for the next three or four years if the Government is still in power. We will try to keep the economy going well in any case. Nonetheless, the money will have to be provided.

Decisions must be made on these issues. For example, Mr. Liam O'Sullivan has posed the question whether the public is willing to pay another 2.5% in taxation or PRSI to provide health care for the elderly. The question will never be put that baldly to people but we need to examine the package of money we have and decide on priorities for its use. When the Government does something well, it must be recognised and supported and when it does something wrong, it must take the criticism, which it has done. We will also voice that criticism as quickly as anyone else.

The medical card was called for by general practitioners and representatives of all parties. It is therefore no good to criticise it now. If we could get another 200,000 people fully covered by the GMS, it would be great, but we are told this is what we can afford. The initiative is a welcome move. The 7.5% increase in the eligibility rates is also welcome and people should congratulate the Government on it. We would like for drugs to be covered next year.

Deputy O'Connor said that the appointment of a Minister of State with responsibility for the elderly was a step in the right direction. However, we need to continue to move in that direction. Other than holding on to the job for a while, Deputies hope that, when we need it, there will be a good environment and someone to care for us. We will be thankful for it and, I hope, live long enough to enjoy it.

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