Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The Travers report makes clear that the foundation decision was taken in 1976 and not in 2002, although it points out that things were brought into focus in 2002. The commission on health funding drew attention to the matter in the late 1980s, as did the health strategy of 1994. The Department received legal advice on the issue in 1975-76. As Mr. Travers states in his report, a great deal of legal advice was received suggesting that the charges were wrong. He said he could not find any substantive advice to suggest it could be done. That is the reality. Mr. Travers acknowledged that the Ombudsman's report dealt with the issue of nursing home subvention, which is related, but not the same.

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