Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am shocked that the Minister of State will not accept my amendment. This review has been going on for more than two years and it will be some time before we see movement on it. My amendment is balanced and fair. A very limited number of people would be able to avail of it, and the Minister of State raised some of the restrictions that will apply to it. If the Minister accepts the principle of this, he will table a re-drafted amendment that will clearly define a home care package. It galls me when Ministers come here and split hairs on the wording of amendments. While I have no difficulty when Ministers disagree with the principle of amendments, I object to their splitting hairs over the wording when they know in their hearts and souls that we on this side of the House do not have the access to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel the Government side has. We are trying to raise the principle of the issue. I will press the amendment later, and I ask the Minister of State to reconsider his position on it.

See this speech in context