Seanad debates

Friday, 17 December 2004

Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages.

 

3:00 pm

Photo of Seán PowerSeán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

Currently, section 53(2)(a) of the original Act provides that the Minister for Health and Children may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, make regulations providing for the imposition of charges for inpatient services in specified circumstances on persons without full eligibility. That includes those over 70 who have an automatic entitlement to medical care on age grounds, or unspecified classes of such persons. We have never said that older people did anything wrong; nor have we accused them of such. To say otherwise is wrong and irresponsible. It has recently been brought to our attention that there is a legal problem, and this Bill's purpose is to bring legal clarity to the situation. The practice of charging has continued since 1976. It is not as if we have intentionally been taking money from people while providing them with nothing in return. The money was taken in good faith and in part for the care that they were receiving. The people who were paying it would not have the same difficulty in doing so that some Members have expressed today.

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