Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Will the Minister of State indicate the extent of the consultation that has taken place with the various representative bodies which work, campaign and lobby on behalf of senior citizens since the Second Stage debate took place? We noted on Second Stage and Committee Stage that consultation involving groups such as Age Action did not take place during the drafting process relating to the legislation. These groups strongly protested about the fact that they were left outside the door with regard to the compilation of the proposals contained in the Bill. Will the Minister of State indicate the extent of any engagement that has taken place since Second Stage? Was the extent of the concern that exists among the current cadre of senior citizens impressed upon the Minister or Ministers of State at the Department of Health and Children? In the future, and if God spares us, those of us present in the Chamber will be members of that cadre.

This is an extremely important matter. The Government is pressing ahead with legislation which is not favoured by those who have the first and direct responsibility of voicing the concerns of the aged. As stated earlier, a serious precedent is being set in the context of a section of society, the members of which will not have access, by right or entitlement, to an essential element of public health care provision, being carved off. The Government is saying that people of senior years who, for a variety of reasons, may have need of nursing home care will no longer have an entitlement to universal access to free public health care provision.

What will happen when this legislation is enacted? Will the Government carve off a further section of society, the members of which have specific problems relating to their age or the ailment or disease from which they suffer? Who is next?

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