Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

As people will see when they read the report, from 1976 to the time Deputy Kenny raised this issue — I acknowledge this because I was involved in the discussions in the autumn — even though this matter was raised on so many occasions over 28 years, there was never a memorandum on the issues. This is extraordinary but it is a fact, and I am not blaming or dumping on anyone. I think the reason for it, and this is my honest opinion, is that they believed that the principle of people paying was fair and right. I think we all agree with that. The problem is that each time it went back they came to a conclusion that it did not require legislation and even when there was legal advice from some of the health boards they stuck to that position. Even at a later period and at the meeting to which Deputy Kenny has referred they said they would get legal advice. That was in December and still that had not happened in October. That is the dilemma. I do not know why it did not come forward as a full memorandum, which as Mr. Travers said, is the issue. People will have to study the report.

There are some issues on staffing that have to be dealt with. I am not into blaming all public servants over a 28 year period. They came to a decision, based on what they thought was an interpretation that was formed in 1976, and they believed they were right in that all the way through that period.

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