Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

The legislation has now been before both Houses of the Oireachtas but it has not improved with age. The major problem is the inclusion of the family home. It should not be included. This is an attack on the one thing a senior citizen can offer to a family member. I find it difficult to link the amendment to the Bill. How will the amendment be applied to make sense of this matter? It does not make sense with regard to those excluded and the reasons for the family home being excluded. Can the Minister of State explain what this means? If a person is in long-term care for more than three years, who must pay the relevant amount? This is not clear.

On the first day of this debate I argued that the family home is precious to all families and should not be taken into account where someone is resident in the home. Deputy Stagg and I visited Naas General Hospital and met an employee of the HSE whose mother was in hospital. He was concerned about the family home being under threat. Before we vote on this amendment I ask the Minister of State to explain the thinking behind it.

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