Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is an appalling response. It is extraordinary that there seems to be no sense of urgency in government about the fact that people are at an increased risk of dying in our hospitals because of lack of funding. Dr. O'Connell outlined that the loss of 30 wards of capacity means that fewer beds are available to accept elective admissions and that this decreases the ability to cope with the surges in demand though our emergency departments. He referred to endoscopy lists going from 10,000 to 20,000 by year end, with greater risk of increased mortality.

Four years ago, the Taoiseach said he would review this scheme. In December 2006, when the fair deal scheme was brought in, Deputy Kenny led the attack and said this was "the introduction of a new death tax on the elderly". At that stage, it was at a 15% contribution whereas it is now at 22%, courtesy of his good self. However, in a letter to me two days ago, he now describes it in this way: "The scheme is a generous one in that it carefully matches the contribution made by residents with the ability to pay and it limits the portion of an applicant's assets." The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has said it should be demand led, and the Minister nodded.

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