Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

It would make sense for people to know their care entitlements when they reach a certain age. That is sorely lacking at present. It is a failure of the previous Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, that when medical cards were introduced for over-70 year olds, such a Bill was not introduced at the same time. We need to clarify exactly to what people are entitled as they grow older.

In spite of what the Tánaiste said, the public perception is that the former Minister, Deputy Martin, has a great deal of questions to answer in this area, as does the former Minister of State in the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Callely, who ironically had responsibility for care of the elderly. He did not fulfil his obligations in that regard. He is lucky that the reshuffle has already taken place because he would not have been reappointed had the Taoiseach known about the mess in which he afterwards landed the Government. I could spend hours speaking on this matter and stating "We told you so", but I will not do so as it is unhelpful and will not progress the case any further.

The Tánaiste's point about what could have been achieved using the huge sums of money in terms of new hospitals and so on makes the situation even more serious. The people who had money taken from them wrongly must have it repaid to them immediately. I am not sure whether the Tánaiste will be successful in limiting the payments back to 1999 because I suspect it may take another court case from before that point to open the floodgates.

A great deal of incompetence has been demonstrated by the Government on this issue for which the entire Cabinet must take responsibility, including the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, since he was the Attorney General at the time. We need to examine the systems in the health services so that we avoid similar debacles. If the Health Service Executive is made aware of a problem or suspects one, action must be taken immediately to rectify it, rather than it continuing for years and landing us in the type of mess in which we are now.

I apologise that I am unable to stay for the debate because I must attend a meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on the issue of Carlow sugar factory. However, Fine Gael will be represented in the Chamber.