Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The legislation on nursing homes and payments for long-term care is being introduced on the advice of the Attorney General by the Government and the Tánaiste. It will be introduced in the Dáil tomorrow and we are making arrangements to deal with it on Friday afternoon. I take Senator Browne's point that it should not be rushed and I have no intention of rushing it. If we do not finish it on Friday, we will come back next week.

For 50 years, people in long-term care places have made a contribution towards the cost of shelter and maintenance. That was provided for under 1954 regulations amended in 1965 and under the Health Act 1970. The regulations were copperfastened in 1976. Those are the facts so there is no point in anyone on any side claiming to be whiter than white.