James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

To follow on from that, for related but not specific information there is a sense in Nursing Homes Ireland that it is being asked to give full disclosure of its accounts in regard to its dealings with the NTPF, which it feels is grossly unfair. If there is failure to agree with the NTPF and a third party arbitrator wants to have a look at its accounts in order to settle the matter, that would be eminently sensible.

This brings us to the second part, namely, that there is no appeals mechanism for nursing homes if they do not satisfy or fail to come to an arrangement with the NTPF. They are simply cut off and there is no justice in that. There needs to be third party arbitration somewhere within the scheme to allow for a situation where a nursing home and the NTPF fail to reach agreement. One cannot put people out of business without having some third party arbitration given that the NTPF will have a monopoly and will be the sole body dealing on behalf of the State.

Those two issues need to be considered. I ask that the Minister of State consider them and ensure that unreasonable information is not sought. I agree with Nursing Homes Ireland that to be asked to lay one's audited accounts before the NTPF before one even begins negotiations seems unreasonable and may introduce a cost to some of the smaller, family-run nursing homes which might not have audited accounts.

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