Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)

However, the people saw fit to get rid of the Fine Gael-led Government. It is important to state that Fine Gael was in power at a time when health boards were tracking family members all over the country to try to get money from them to pay for relatives in institutions.

I have visited many elderly people who paid three quarters of their pension to the health board and were happy to do so because they were looked after. Many elderly people told me they felt living in a nursing home was like living in a hotel. These people worked hard all their lives and received pensions. They were prepared to make a contribution for their care.

An anomaly was found in the original Act. I compliment the Tánaiste, Deputy Harney, on immediately setting out to rectify the problem.