Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

We must address the fundamentals of investment in nursing homes. At present a developer-led syndicate is driving construction which is opposed to the type of private nursing home that we had for years, which was family led and gave credibility to the sector. However, at present, syndicates of rich, successful businessmen are getting tax-breaks to feed into the construction and operation of nursing homes. This is an ethical issue because it is detaching the family run element and it allows outsiders to come into the sector. They have to provide for a matron who may not have an emotional attachment to the nursing home.

I have tried to make three important points today. The first is in regard to equality and how we treat older people. We all live in Peter Pan's world and we think we will not get old. When I get old — I do not know when will be the cut-off point, perhaps it will be when I reach 100 years of age — I would like to be treated the same as every other citizen in this country. The second point deals with the transparency between the community nursing homes and the private nursing homes and the financial assessment of each. The third point——