Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I can assure the Minister that neither I nor my party would countenance those charges applying irrespective of the income stream of individuals. We believe in universal healthcare and its provision on the basis of need. We believe in a progressive form of taxation that will provide for these services. A wealth tax is exactly that, where people who are in a position to pay more should pay more based on a formula we have provided in recent years to the Minister's colleague, the Minister for Finance, and other members of the Cabinet. We argued that over a number of years with the preceding Government but it did not listen either.

There is a resolution to the difficult financial challenges which prevail but what is incorporated in this Bill, as in so many others presented to the Houses, is ill-suited to the purpose. All we are doing is penalising people who, invariably, are not in a position to take on further burdens. Section 12 proposes a €5 increase on the €75 charge for inpatient care. These may seem like small sums to the Minister but I happen to know people for whom they will be a significant additional burden.

I hold to public nursing home care provision. I am very pleased that, based on a recent engagement with senior HSE officials in regard to St. Mary's hospital in Castleblayney in my home county of Monaghan, required capital works will be undertaken in line with HIQA recommendations in its most recent reports. The net effect of that in terms of the capacity of St. Mary's is the loss of six beds. I have provided a specific example, but I could cite a number across any number of constituencies in the country. We fully understand and accept the criteria being applied by HIQA in terms of better standards of accommodation provision for residents, but we have to wake up to the fact that the ever reducing number of beds is having a deleterious impact across the board and is driving people ever more, not by choice but by necessity, into the private care providers.

I put it to the Minister that section 11 does not merit support. I will conclude because I will become annoyed about specific cases on which I am currently working. I do not want to go into any of the details, although I am sorely tempted to do so. I am opposing section 11 for all the reasons I have explained.

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