Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

Given that the circumstances of that time are well-documented, the Members on the other side should know about the matter, even if they do not remember it. Legislation was eventually passed at that time. If one checks the record, one will learn that regulations were drawn up, although it is obvious that they were not enforced. That is the kernel of the problem under discussion.

Given that the system in place has failed the people for long enough, I do not accept the argument made by many speakers that we need to wait for legislation to be brought before the House. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and Deputy Fiona O'Malley accused the Opposition of trying to have it both ways, a charge that could be far more appropriately aimed at the Government, particularly the Minister for Health and Children, who is the leader of Deputy O'Malley's party. As Deputy Kenny said earlier, the Minister was happy to rush through legislation to legalise nursing home charges, but she is unwilling to show similar haste on this issue, despite the promises of co-operation with such legislation made by Fine Gael and the other Opposition parties. I do not like legislation to be rushed through the Oireachtas, but I would prefer that to happen on this occasion, as long as it is good legislation, rather than the House to take its summer recess while people continue to suffer. It is unacceptable for the Government to tell people to sit tight and wait for it to produce legislation after the summer.

The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, seemed to have all the answers in his speech. If that is the case, why is the Government unable to compile the answers in legislative form and bring such a Bill to the House? There is no reason that cannot be done. The Government has been in charge of the health service for almost eight years, but it has failed to produce detailed guidelines on what nursing home inspectors should look for. Why has the Government failed to introduce uniformity across all sectors? I refer to uniformity of best practice, rather than uniformity for the sake of it. Why has it not introduced new care regulations?

Why can people not see inspectors' reports, which should be a basic matter? Why are the children of elderly parents unable to compare one nursing home with another when they are making one of the most difficult decisions they will ever have to make? I do not understand why people are not allowed to compare nursing homes, to ensure they are choosing the best possible nursing homes for their parents and relatives. We need to put in place such back-up services. Everything seems to be done after the event.

The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said that a great deal has been done, but that is a tired slogan. If the Minister of State was in the nursing home shown on television on Monday night, or in any other poor nursing home, he would realise there is much more to be done. Something needs to be done urgently. It is a failure on the part of the Government. The buck must stop at some door. It must stop at the door of the Minister for Health and Children.

See this speech in context