Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

It is important that we in this House should represent those who may not be able to represent themselves.

I have enjoyed a long friendship with Professor Des O'Neill. He tended to my father during his last illness in St. James's Hospital and he is now an eminent consultant in Tallaght Hospital where he does tremendous work. I could not but expect that his report would reflect his particular care. Members of the Joint Committee on Health and Children received copies this morning of the opinion of legal counsel on these issues. Political points have been made in respect of whether the report should be published. I am of the view that whatever is required to allow for publication should be done. That is what the public require and all of us wish to be confident that everything possible is done to ensure that the care given to elderly people in nursing homes is universally of a first class nature.

My colleague, Senator Glynn, made a fair point on this issue which reflects my experience as a member of the former Eastern Health Board, which I joined in 1994. When the health boards were abolished there was much criticism of the visiting committees and of the practice of allocating expenses to councillors. The reality, however, is that they played an important role.

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