Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

It would be wise to take up the Leader's offer regarding No. 2. A debate on this issue in January will be useful.

Any time a proposal is made on this side of the House in regard to a retrospective amendment, we are informed by the Attorney General that the House cannot introduce legislation of that type. Now we see that the Government will attempt to pass emergency legislation through the Dáil and Seanad by the end of this week. The Government has now accepted that it was legally unsound to take pension and other payments from pensioners in long-stay residential homes or beds. Why has it taken three years for the Government to own up to this? It was informed as far back as 2002 by at least one health board that, following the provision of medical cards to those over 70 years of age, this situation was legally unsound.

It is not appropriate that legislation can be rushed through in this fashion, so close to the Christmas recess. In effect, people have been denied the rights that were available to them over the past number of years. This is not the way to do business.

The Tánaiste is at least trying to correct the situation. However, her predecessor was aware of the situation when he negotiated with the IMO regarding the medical card scheme for over 70s as far back as 2001. He stated he would do it first and then held negotiations with the IMO. It was the worst possible deal ever negotiated between a Minister and a representative organisation. We must take this matter slowly. Mistakes were made in 2001 and we do not want to compound the situation by making more mistakes.

Senator Ó Murchú spoke earlier this week about the problem of the proliferation of knives and the knife culture that exists in our society. An incident occurred in this city last night where a nine year old stabbed a 14 year old. Following Senator Ó Murchú's call earlier this week we need a debate early in the new session on the problem of the knife culture in urban and rural Ireland. We must take measures to take these dangerous weapons out of people's hands quickly. While legislation exists in this area, not enough is being done.