Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I wish to offer a number of responses to what the Deputy said. Everybody in the country acknowledges there have been significant improvements, including the INO, which has said so to me. That is not to say challenges and difficulties do not remain, because they do. One of the challenges is long-term care. As Deputy Reilly is aware, a significant number of people in this city, in particular but not exclusively in Dublin, have finished their acute phase and have not yet moved to more appropriate settings. The fair deal will bring equality of treatment between those in public nursing homes and private nursing homes. I have no doubt it will greatly alleviate those pressure points. Many of the people in acute hospitals are waiting for the introduction of the fair deal. I understand Deputy Reilly's party opposed the introduction of the fair deal but nobody has put forward an alternative to it. That will help in particular in the autumn of this year.

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