James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

On the same issue, I have asked about this repeatedly since before Christmas and the Taoiseach has finally informed us that it probably will not be before the House before the summer recess. I respect his honesty but I would equally respectfully ask him and the Minister sitting beside him, the Minister for Health and Children, to bring in some interim measure to give people relief. They have waited on tenterhooks for the past nine months for some relief. To expect them to go through the summer on a promise of it coming through in the next session is neither reasonable nor fair. I ask that some interim measure be put in place to give people in long-stay nursing homes some relief, please.

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