Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I must make the point that what we are doing here is converting regulations into primary legislation. With regard to the financial assessment, we are not proposing any change here. We are not proposing any great change in the way the scheme will operate.

From the point of view of looking after older people, the Government has treated them very much as a priority. We have seen that in successive budgets, with the old age pension increasing. We increased the number of home care packages. Last year we had 1,100 and have increased that this year by an extra 2,000 throughout the country. These are things that have made a real difference and have improved the quality of life of so many.

We are introducing the measures proposed today on the advice of the Attorney General. We are criticised when we do not take advice. Now that we are taking advice and acting upon it, we are being criticised for that as well. With regard to Deputy Twomey's comments on funding, that is fine when one is in Opposition because one can be as carefree as one likes. However, any reasonable person will accept that in proposing any scheme, one must be very conscious of how much it will cost. I suggest that if he happens to be in the Cabinet after the next election, he make the same proposals. He will see what short shrift he gets from the Department of Finance if he does not cost a scheme he proposes to introduce. We are living in the real world here.

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