Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

In light of the fact that some political personnel at the highest possible level have questioned the cost of tribunals, when will No. 84, the Legal Costs Bill be introduced to curtail that issue? When will the Enforcement of Fines Bill be introduced to free up gardaí to do the necessary work which they are best trained to do? When will we know when the Health (Long-term Residential Care Services) Bill will come before the House or will funding provided for that Bill be allowed to be used to cover the cost of those people in nursing homes who are being pressurised to pay money they do not have? This is an extremely urgent Bill that was first highlighted in February of last year and we have still not seen it. We need alternatives if that Bill is not introduced. We cannot allow old people to be pressurised. I know a family, one of whose members has multiple sclerosis and one who has cerebral palsy.

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