Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

This is a hugely important issue, but we are no closer to the full exposure of what has really happened concerning the missing moneys allocated for the fair deal over the first five months of this year. The Minister for Health himself acknowledged this yesterday when he stated that he had not yet got to the root of the money trail. The Minister, Deputy Reilly, said he was still not happy that he had found out everything and he said he would keep at this until he did. He also referred to "pots of money" and "pilfering", although that was not his second choice to describe it.

There is no provision in what is offered here in proposal No. 4 for questioning the Minister. It only provides for statements with a five-minute statement from the Minister or Minister of State to conclude. It does not and will not accommodate what is necessary to get to the real facts at the core of this issue, which is causing distress for many older people and their families throughout the State.

I have to say that unless the Government can provide for a proper question and answer opportunity for Deputies, we cannot support this proposal. It is clearly an inadequate address of one of the most serious issues presenting at this time. I am appealing to the Minister, Deputy Quinn, to indicate that a question and answer opportunity will be added to the proposed statements.

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