Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The rate of population growth among people aged over 65 is nearly double that of the European Union as a whole. It is projected to increase by approximately 20,000 per year between now and 2021. There is a projected increase of 46% in the number aged over 85 between now and 2021. This is a dramatic trend for our health services to meet, particularly if they are to meet the demand for nursing home places. It will mean a significant increase in the number of nursing home beds required.

What is astounding is that the Taoiseach, when preparing the service plan for 2014 last year, in respect of which plan he took a hands-on part because he could not trust his then Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to do it, actually budgeted for 700 fewer beds although demand was growing. The results have been dramatic. Every month in 2014, the circumstances worsen dramatically in terms of the number of people waiting for a nursing home bed and to become eligible to participate in the fair deal scheme. The cuts have been dramatic. In January of this year, 512 were awaiting funding, and there was a four-week waiting period for approval. In April, there were 913 waiting, with a six-week waiting period for approval. In June, 1,465 were waiting and it took 12 weeks to obtain approval. In October, a whopping 2,114 were awaiting funding and approval took 15 weeks. Therefore, the sickest in society were waiting 15 weeks to become eligible for the fair deal scheme, or for appropriate nursing home care.

In some instances, where the acute hospitals have transferred people in advance of their becoming eligible, the bills are now mounting to €3000, €4000 and €5000. Where people are in such circumstances for the full 15 weeks, some families face a bill of €15,000, which is extraordinary. I cannot understand how the Government is standing over this and why the Taoiseach decided to allow for this over the past 12 months. Does the Taoiseach accept this is a scandal in itself and that it is getting worse? Will he reverse the decisions he has taken and provide the funding necessary to enable the waiting times to reduce dramatically and those who are waiting to become eligible for the fair deal scheme to become eligible immediately?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I accept that this is a challenge. Clearly, the demographic trends are as the Deputy has pointed out. Everybody understands that not only is the number of older people in the country increasing but that people are living longer because of advances in general health and medicine. At the other end of the scale, it is true to state children being born today will in many cases live well beyond 100. However, the challenge for now is to provide a health service that gives the very best of attention to all patients. There can be no doubt that it is a challenge.

As of 28 October 2014, there were 2,135 on the placement list. The Government allocated a further €25 million in the budget for 2015 in response to the delayed discharges in acute hospitals. Deputy Martin is well aware that those affected are people that the medical profession would have cleared to leave the hospital setting but who cannot because of the lack of step-down beds or opportunities to go into appropriate homes.

There is a review of the fair deal scheme underway, as announced by the Minister. It will include consideration of the balance between community and residential services, in addition to future financing for the sustainability of the scheme. The review will be published in the coming period and work is well advanced on it. The Deputy is aware of the conditions that apply for participation in the nursing home support scheme. The review of the scheme is considering its long-term sustainability in addition to how the current model of provision balances residential care with care in the community. The question of whether this is to be changed because of what older people wish is being considered. The review will be published in the not-too-distant future.

The budget for the scheme this year is €939 million. Admittedly, this represents a reduction on the figure for the 2013 scheme. It includes €23 million that was transferred from the health service's budget to community services to deliver a greater range of care options that people require, prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, avoid undue delays in discharges from acute hospitals, and provide rehabilitation to support older people in returning home. As the Deputies are all aware, the vast majority of older people want to be in their home and community until such time as medical or other circumstances require their going into an institution.

Some €10 million of the allocation is to provide intensive home care packages, covering 250 people annually. That phase began in April of this year across eight different locations. Some €3 million was allocated for the commission of 25 intermediate or transitional care beds, to benefit 650 people. Twenty of those beds were for complex cases, to benefit 130 people with specific difficulties. Some €10 million was allocated to address funding shortfalls in the provision of public short-stay beds and to maintain the current provision of 1,860 beds.

This is a challenge and the Minister is carrying out a review of the fair deal scheme to get the balance right. The question of the number of discharged patients who can be released consequent to the allocation of €25 million this year and the longer waiting periods for approval of eligibility for the fair deal scheme that have been evident need to be addressed. One cannot expect families to fork out huge amounts of money waiting for fair deal scheme approval to come through.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Some 700 of them are doing so at present.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Admittedly, it has been a challenge of finances. It is one we are addressing and of which the Minister is very aware.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know what world the Taoiseach lives in.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The same world as Deputy Martin.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is because of the Taoiseach's decision last year with the Minister, Deputy Reilly, that we have people waiting. He has stated that admittedly, this represents a reduction in the funding. Demand is increasing and the Taoiseach knows the population trends. It is extraordinary that he would provide for less funding in an area that demands more funding. The Taoiseach will provide hundreds of millions of euro in tax relief and present that for political reasons, but is there any social conscience at the heart of Government at all given that the sickest and most vulnerable older persons in society are left waiting for 15 weeks before they will get approval?

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Outrageous.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Their families are anxious about it. Thousands of euro are being paid by families in some instances.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Bed blockers.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is nothing short of a disgrace. The number of delayed discharges has gone up to 700 now. The number of cute admissions is soaring. It is causing significant dysfunction throughout the health service. It is extraordinary that the Taoiseach would come in here and state that admittedly, this represents a reduction in the funding. The Government must address it. We cannot have people waiting.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question, please.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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All of this is happening-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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It is the same with the bed blockers.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----because the Government took a decision 12 months ago to reduce the funding and we see nothing at present that suggests that any meaningful intervention will take place. It is about priorities.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question, please. Deputy Martin is over time.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach has established his priorities and has made his decisions. What I want from the Taoiseach is an immediate commitment that this waiting list will be eliminated promptly and that no one will have to wait 15 weeks for fair deal scheme approval. I want that now because the numbers affected have increased from 500 at the beginning of the year to 2,000 now, and there will be 3,000 if the Taoiseach does not get it sorted and does right by these people.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Everything with Deputy Martin has become extraordinary these days. It is remarkable. When he was throwing money at it, left, right and centre, the situation was worse.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Stay quite.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach opposed it. He went around country stating our homes would be taken off us.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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At the end of September this year-----

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Mattie McGrath ran away from them.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Would Members settle down?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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At the end of September this year-----

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Where will Deputy Mattie McGrath run now?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Where will Deputy Coonan run?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Would Members stay quiet?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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At the end of September this year-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach is well able to answer for himself.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----there were 22,380 persons in receipt of financial support from the State, including subvention and contract beds. A further 426 persons had been allocated funding but had not yet taken up a bed. Some 2,135 persons were on the national placement list awaiting funding.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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There is no problem.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Some 1,450 of those were in progress. Some of those applications come in---------

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, knows the facts.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Run Mattie, run.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----without the necessary supporting documentation. To date this year, 4,324 new clients were funded under the scheme in public and private nursing home. The average approval rate for 2014-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What about the waiting times?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----is 515 persons per month and for the ten months to October 2014, the average approval rate was 463 per month.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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The waiting time is 15 weeks.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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They must be all in Mayo.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On the profile for November-December this year, an average of 783 per month will be released in November and December.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach is merely reading notes. Would he answer the question?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is a challenge, but it is a challenge that the Minister accepts and that the Government will deal with.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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It is a bigger challenge for the families.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is about decisions. It is about prioritising the spending.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We all understand the importance of persons-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is about the proper allocation of resources.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Would Deputy Martin stay quiet?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----particularly elderly persons-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Someone on over €100,000 gets €1,700.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----being able to be comfortable in their own home-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Martin had his say.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----in the community and under this scheme.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The older people get nothing.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We are very conscious of it. The figures I have given Deputy Martin are accurate figures for up to the end of November-December.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is prioritisation.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Taoiseach ask some of his backbenchers and they will let him in on what is going on?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Of course, the demographics are changing and we are making arrangements to deal with those changes.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach took his choices. He is looking after the wealthy.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The figures I have given the Deputy of a 783 average per month for November and December speak for themselves. It is very much a different situation than that when Deputy Martin had charge of it.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Fourteen weeks.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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This afternoon the Committee of Public Accounts will meet to decide on how best to proceed in regard to the allegations of tax evasion contained within the whistleblower file. I note that the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, has now forwarded a copy of Mr. Gerry Ryan's detailed witness statement to the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation after a delay of almost two years. I understand also that the Minister stated he will meet the whistleblower, even though he had been unwilling to do so previously despite repeated requests by Mr. Ryan since 2011.

I am sure the Taoiseach will agree that the allegations contained within this file are of a most serious nature and I understand that the Minister briefed him on these matters on Saturday last. I ask the Taoiseach whether he believes Mr. Gerry Ryan when he states that there was a pattern of political obstruction which impeded his investigation into these matters. Does he believe Mr. Ryan when he states that his investigation was shut down by the former Tánaiste, Ms Mary Harney, when he uncovered that named senior politicians from the Progressive Democrats-----

A Deputy:

Is that not Deputy McDonald's job?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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-----Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael held offshore accounts, revelations that, undoubtedly, would have been most uncomfortable for the political establishment?

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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They themselves had a few funny accounts.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Taoiseach believe Mr. Ryan when he states that the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, was part of this pattern of political obstruction, in fact, up until yesterday when he finally released this witness statement?

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Deputy McDonald is supposed to be finding out.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Deputy McDonald should look over her shoulder at who is watching.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is the first opportunity for anybody to bring forward such documentation under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. It is because of the reform introduced by the Government that such should be so. As I stated yesterday in answer to questions, this is a case of where the whistleblower involved here must be protected. Indeed, it is very different from the treatment given to whistleblowers from the organisation that Deputy McDonald represents.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In any event, I understand that Deputy McDonald is still a member of the Committee of Public Accounts and she stands up here and prejudges the outcome of the witness statement and the documentation provided by the person involved here.

Deputy McDonald will be aware that this dates back a long time. On the allegations being made by the whistleblower under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the witness statement has been sent from the Department and the Minister to the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, which requested the witness statement in the first instance. She will also be aware that the Committees of Public Accounts, under the Chairman, Deputy John McGuinness, has sought legal advice on the documentation that has been received. I will not preclude what that legal advice might be or what the Committee of Public Accounts may do following receipt of that advice. However, I want to say that this is a welcome trend. Under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the whistleblower must be protected here and the issue of tax evasion in respect of the vast quantity of documentation provided must be, if necessary, followed through by the Committee of Public Accounts.

Deputy McDonald will be aware that all of the documentation involved was sent to the five agencies - the Director of Corporate Enforcement, Garda, Revenue, and the Mahon and Moriarty tribunals. If the whistleblower, in his statement, is of the view that some of the institutions of the State did not follow through in the way that they should have, that is now a matter on which the fraud squad should follow through and for the Committee of Public Accounts to do its duty as an independent committee of this House.

Deputy McDonald stands up and has already prejudged the outcome of this matter in the same way as she is prepared to state that her party never had any cover up of anything that will be discussed later on today because of another whistleblower with an issue that was of very serious and personal importance to her.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I have prejudged nothing and I have been careful not to prejudge anything.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Deputy McDonald is asking the Taoiseach to do so.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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As regards the allegations-----

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Deputy McDonald is asking the Taoiseach to do so.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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-----that are very serious in respect of alleged tax evasion by named individuals who are household names from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats, it is not for me to prejudge. Those are merely allegations.

I asked the Taoiseach a different set of questions that I believe he should answer and that he is in a position to answer. He does not need legal advice and he does not need the Committee of Public Accounts to guide him on these matters. The Minister has briefed the Taoiseach on the dossier.

What I want is for the Taoiseach to tell this House whether he believes Mr. Ryan, the brave whistleblower, as the Taoiseach has acknowledged, when he says his investigation was subject to sustained political obstruction. That is what the man claims. Does the Taoiseach believe him when he says that the former Tánaiste, Mary Harney, shut down his investigation when information emerged around these public figures? Finally, does the Taoiseach accept, as Mr. Ryan believes, that the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, was part and parcel of that pattern of political obstruction? They are the questions for the Taoiseach.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy McDonald is over time.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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They are straightforward and the Taoiseach should be in a position to answer them in this House today.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No, I do not believe the Minister, Deputy Bruton, was part of a pattern of political obstruction. The evidence, clearly, is that the Minister requested that the work would proceed on the completion of the witness statement in respect of the matters in hand. The Minister made his own statement on the matter. The witness statement has been cleared and sent to the entity that requested it-----

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Two years later.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----namely, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. Deputy McDonald has asked me questions. She said she does not want to prejudge the matter herself but she is asking me to prejudge it.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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No, I did not ask that.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy McDonald has asked me in the House if I believe the whistleblower's statements and allegations. She asked me to prejudge the outcome. Deputy McDonald's point is whether I believe the whistleblower.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Taoiseach believe him?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Let me confirm to her that when I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Bruton, he briefed me on the reasons for the delay in the sending of the witness statement to the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. As I am not a member of the Committee of Public Accounts I have not read the detailed dossier, nor have I been briefed on its contents. Deputy McDonald is aware that the fraud squad investigation will follow through on the witness statement, in respect of which all the documentation has already been sent some time ago to the various entities over the years. The Committee of Public Accounts has been given the documentation and the dossier and it has sought legal advice on it. The PAC is one committee of the House that has always acted independently.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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So the Taoiseach does not believe the whistleblower was politically obstructed. Is that the Taoiseach's answer?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy McDonald asked me whether I believe the whistleblower's statement.

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Does Deputy McDonald believe Maíria Cahill?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I want the Committee of Public Accounts, in its responsibility, to assess and analyse the legal advice it receives and to follow through on that.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is the Taoiseach's responsibility not that of the Committee of Public Accounts.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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If further investigation is warranted of any of the decisions taken, or not taken, by the agencies of State then so be it and the Committee of Public Accounts will have a responsibility in that regard. We cannot stand over a situation where a whistleblower under the protection of legislation comes forward with allegations or statements and they are not followed through or investigated.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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So the Taoiseach does not believe he was obstructed.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is the purpose of the legislation. It is a radical departure where the whistleblower in this case must be protected.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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He strenuously disagrees with that.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is a very far cry from the way Deputy McDonald's people looked after whistleblowers over the past 35 years.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Joan Collins.

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The republican movement operated its own law and its own kangaroo court.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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That is not very nice.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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It was not very nice what republicans meted out to people.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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You would know all about it.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Sinn Féin knows all about it. They are digging up the bodies at the moment.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will Members please stay quiet? I call Deputy Collins.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Is that official?

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Good man, Dessie.

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Ellis would know all about that.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If Members wish to have a conversation they can go outside the Chamber. I call Deputy Joan Collins.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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It was a kangaroo court.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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A Cheann Comhairle-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Members should please show some respect to the Deputy.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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I refer the Taoiseach to the recent UNICEF report, Children of the Recession. The report deals with the impact of the recession on children in the OECD. Many Deputies referred to it but no one has held the Government to account for the impact of its decisions on children in the State. The figures for Ireland make for sober reading, to say the least. The number of children suffering poverty rose from 18% in 2008 to 28.6% in 2012. We are now catching up on the United States, which has a disgraceful rate of 32.5% and we have passed the UK rate of 25.6% child poverty. The figures represent a damning indictment of global capitalism, given that such poverty can exist in the richest countries as a consequence of the inequalities that lie at the heart of capitalism, and in fact is an essential part of the system. Before the crash In Ireland, 18% of children lived in poverty but inequality has increased dramatically due to the austerity enforced on ordinary families by the Government and the previous Fianna Fáil-led Administration. Children are going to school hungry. They are arriving at crèches with doughnuts or chocolate bars because that is what is on offer in the local shops. A total of 729 children in 400 families in Dublin alone have lost the roof over their heads. Families are forced to live in hotel rooms with nowhere to cook or play.

I also refer the Taoiseach to the young mother from Cork who wrote to a national newspaper to ask what is the point of working to pay bills or taxes when the real losers are one's children. The mother is part of a working family. She said in her letter that her two children are being raised in child care centres like caged hens while the parents work. They are out of the home for longer than the average industrial worker.

At the other end of the scale, the report I cited states that 16% of those aged between 15 and 24 years are not in employment, education or training. Along with those forced to emigrate they are part of a generation cast aside. That is the real price of austerity and the choice the Government has made, along with the previous Government. Does the Taoiseach agree that is the result of the choices the Government has made by bailing out the bankers and protecting the wealthy at the expense of those in society who most need it?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No, I do not agree.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Then whose fault is it?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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However, I agree that the situation the Government inherited three and a half years ago was unprecedented in terms of the scale of the economic challenge. A total of 250,000 jobs were lost. Virtually every house in the country was in negative equity. There was disillusionment and disappointment and no hope. Emigration and poverty stared many in the face. We have come a long way since that time and we still have quite a distance to travel-----

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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The situation is getting worse.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----but the figures that are now emerging show an improvement in the situation for children and families all over the country.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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Where do they show that?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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With interest rates having fallen to less than 2% for the country, the creation of 75,000 new jobs, with the highest rise in consumer confidence in seven years and the first budget in seven years where there were no tax increases and no reductions in services, the improvement speaks for itself.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Tell that to the children who are starving. It is disgraceful.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Joan Collins mentioned housing. In the recent budget the Government allocated €2.2 billion for social housing and is bringing forward changes in flexibility in the planning legislation, with two Bills on the way. In addition, there has been an instruction to NAMA to assist in terms of the provision of both unfinished units and land for construction to take place. Money has been allocated for the improvement of up to 1,800 vacant units in Dublin and around the country. Construction and reconstruction work is under way. The Construction 2020 programme will stimulate the construction sector which, as the Deputy is aware, collapsed at the end of the so-called Celtic tiger years.

Deputy Collins correctly referred to young people. That is why during Ireland's Presidency we were the country that promoted and introduced the Youth Guarantee, with the Tánaiste playing a leading role. That is why the nature of FÁS was changed entirely and it evolved into SOLAS. Serious levels of funding has been provided for training, apprenticeships to trades and to provide opportunities.

The Deputy also mentioned a letter from a young mother in Cork. I admire her writing to the newspaper.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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She was giving out about the Government.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As she pointed out, this is something that has befallen tens of thousands of families. I say to Deputy Collins that it is the reason in the budget that for the first time in quite a long time, the Government was able to reverse the trend by reducing income tax.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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The Government widened the gap by doing that.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Household bills and taxes were increased.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Following the income tax reduction, a couple with two incomes stand to have €1,200 returned to them. As the Deputy is also aware, child benefit increased by €5 per child per month. That will apply again next year and the following year.

It is a recognition of the sacrifices made by people but it is also a reflection of the Government wanting to give back to those who have been most seriously pressurised by the impact of the recession on our country. That trend will continue over the next number of years.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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The Taoiseach's reply amazes me. The UNICEF report said it did not have to be like this. Many other countries such as Chile, Poland and Romania did a much better job of protecting their children through five years of so-called fiscal adjustments with countries beholden to the International Monetary Fund faring worst.

The chief executive officer of Barnardos has said, "Sadly, we know the number of children living in poverty in Ireland grew horrifically during the recession". What we have learned from this report is that it was not inevitable. The Taoiseach is saying it has been inevitable. Some 18 out of 41 countries managed to reduce child poverty, despite the economic downturn. The increase in this country is the fifth worst in a list topped by Iceland and Greece and it is a damning indictment of the Taoiseach's Government and the previous Government and of the policies of austerity which have been implemented over the past number of years. The Taoiseach has given people the crumbs off the table and these are being swept aside into the dustbin.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question, please, Deputy.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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I have a final important point, if the Ceann Comhairle will bear with me.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Just put your question, please, Deputy.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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The woman in Cork said: "No one will ever stand over my grave and say, 'Wasn't she great at paying her water taxes' but it will be at the exact moment that my children will evaluate the quality and the years I gave them." Is the Taoiseach standing over this policy? Will he abolish the water tax? It is causing so much grief, stress and concern for every single family in the country and this family is an example of what they are all going through. Abolish the water tax as a start.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The UNICEF report covers the period to 2012. What the Deputy does not seem to accept is that the changes happening in our economy are reflecting to the benefit of families and children-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Hold on, please.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I refer to the jobs being created which impact on the economic situation for more and more families.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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It is getting worse.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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With unemployment falling from 15.2% to 11% and soon to be at around 10%, it is heading in the right direction.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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For some.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is still much too high but it is in a stronger position than previously. The jobs being created now, such as 2,000 jobs announced last week, will also benefit the current situation and in the future. That is what we want to build on.

Deputy Collins referred to the water charges when she spoke about the letter from the young mother in Cork. As I pointed out to the Deputy, in this most recent budget, in the next budget and in the one after that - if the people so wish - multiples of the water contributions will be given back to families in their income tax reduction and in increased child benefit, as has happened in this case.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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For better-off families.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Creating a gap between rich and poor.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot hear.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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For a working couple on average wages of €50,000 a year, the return will be of the order of €1,200, together with the increased €5 per child per month.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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That is not an average wage; €50,000 a year is not an average wage.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The GP cards being extended to children aged under six means no payment at the point of contact with the doctor. The provision of the free preschool year is a help to many families - not everybody - but to many families with young children of preschool age. This will continue in the future.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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The legacy will last for decades.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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The Taoiseach is ignoring the facts.