Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Law Reform Commission published a draft of what could form the basis of the heads of a Bill. I ask that this be referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children by the Department of Health and that the committee begin hearings about whether this could be looked at for the second half of the Government's term of office in respect of the provision of a legislative basis for the delivery of private home care. The Minister is quite right. The experience is not universally bad. About 90% of it is probably delivered very well. However, in respect of the protection of vulnerable groups like children, people with intellectual disabilities or elderly people in nursing homes, we have seen that it takes a very difficult case for legislation to be brought in.

In advance of the broadcasting of the kind of "Prime Time" programme to which I referred, which as sure as night follows day will occur, as was the case last week with the programme on the ambulance service, we should be proactive and encourage the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children to conduct hearings on this matter and to engage with elderly people, their families, care providers, the Department of Health, the HSE and others to determine how best to deal with this. I have a great fear this issue will be left behind.

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