James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I thank all those who contributed to the debate. From what the Minister said yesterday, I would like to know what information the Ombudsman sought in 2009 but which was not supplied and was ultra vires, according to the Minister. The Minister also referred yesterday to the good people working in the Department of Health and Children, of whom I know there are many. However, I would like a reassurance that none of those in the Department of Health and Children who dealt with this issue were those who dealt with the medical card issue, as they certainly did not serve the public in a manner in which they should have in colluding with successive Governments to deprive people of care to which they were entitled.

Deputy Mary O'Rourke referred earlier to Loughloe House, which I visited. As I recall, a HIQA report itemised ten issues around that situation, many of which concerned staff and management, not the building itself, yet it was used as an excuse to begin to move people out of it, despite the fact that they considered it to be their home and without consideration for the relationships they had formed. I have a clear memory of one man who shares my name who suffered a stroke not long afterwards due to the stress he was put under, yet the HSE continued to move out the people.

One of my colleagues raised the issue of privatisation in regard to the Dublin fire brigade service. That is the approach of the HSE. When HIQA identified problems with a service, instead of fixing it, the HSE closed it down. On the Dublin fire brigade issue, it is a question of money being paid over for the services provided by Dublin City Council and, instead of fixing it, the answer is to close it down and deprive people of an essential service because the State will not pay the money. Other speakers made the point that 20 years ago there were twice as many people in public facilities as in private but it is now the reverse.

I congratulate the Ombudsman and her office and I commend her courage. Equally, however, I abhor the Minister's attack on the Ombudsman and her office, in which she engaged again yesterday. It is an office that defends people against this opaque Government and its servants. All we need do is look at the extraordinary behaviour of the Taoiseach and his Ministers in the past week, denying the reality of the economic mess the country and the rest of the world sees reported but which the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, sees as fiction. It is fiction on a Sunday and fact on a Thursday. He and his buddy, the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, decry any knowledge of the impending bailout by the ECB and the IMF of the country's economy, which has been wrecked by the Tweedledee and Tweedledum of the two Brians.

The Ombudsman's office is one of the few remaining champions of the people. She highlighted in her report the lack of clarity in the law as it stands, and stated that while the nursing home support scheme might clarify eligibility, it does not clarify the situation regarding entitlement. She continued by stating that poor legislation will be exploited in the courts, and the 400 cases before the courts are evidence of this.

Questions remain. Will the nursing homes support scheme fund of €970 million remain untouched by this year's budget? Will we again see waiting lists for nursing home care if the money runs out? Other speakers referred to the nearly 2,000 people under the age of 65, such as those with early dementia, brain injury and other debilitating illnesses, whose entitlements are not clear. We must get clarity on the entitlements of such people. This can be done through legislation. There is a Bill dealing with eligibility for services which could address this and it should be brought before the Dáil as soon as possible.

Ireland and its people face the darkest hour since the foundation of the State. Our people are anxious and worried, and many are not sleeping due to great uncertainty created by the disastrous policies of the Fianna Fáil-Green Government. They are flabbergasted by the self-delusion of the Taoiseach and his Ministers and their denial of the truth. They become more disheartened when they see a people's champion, the Ombudsman, attacked and denigrated by Government.

I have a message of hope for the people. We will regain our Republic, rebuild our economy and get our people back to work but we need a general election to put in place a new Government that will give the leadership to do this, leadership that is clear and committed to the good of the country. Such a Government would protect the office and independence of the Ombudsman, the rights of older people and all those who need long-term care. I commend the motion to the House.

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