Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Was the Minister consulted, advised or aware at any time of the cases of those who complained and had their charges stopped? Will he accept that if he had even an inkling of such cases, it should have alerted him to the fact that something was seriously wrong with the whole matter of the application of charges for people in long-term nursing home care?

Given that the Tánaiste, as the new Minister for Health and Children, indicated that she has inherited a Department that has been cursed by systemic maladministration, and referring back to a point made earlier by another speaker, is the Minister concerned about her comments yesterday in committee that she would not adjudicate in the matter? Yet, in her delivery today, she stated very clearly that she recognises that the administrative culture in any Department is influenced by the style and leadership of its political head. Is there not a serious question over the Minister's position and term in office inherent in what the Tánaiste said here this afternoon?

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