Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I welcome Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. I am delighted to speak on the Health (Amendment) Bill 2005. It is a short Bill with two purposes. First, to put reasonable charges for long-stay care on a legal basis and, second, to provide hundreds of thousands of people on low incomes with the opportunity to visit their GPs without worrying about costs. These two issues are most welcome and I am delighted that we, as a Government, have brought forward proposals today in this regard. Now we, as a Parliament, must ensure there is legal clarity regarding important public services and charges.

While many people have ranted and raved about this issue since it first came to light last year, I commend the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, the Ministers of State, Deputies Brian Lenihan, Seán Power and Tim O'Malley, and the entire Government for bringing these proposals to us. I will say again that I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court. Senator Browne would see that differently. He thinks we on this side of the House pay lip service and say we welcome it when, in fact, we do not. It has certainly given us clarity on where we are today.

This Bill, as the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, stated in the Dáil last week, stems from the Government's determination to provide legal clarity in the interest of patients, their families, taxpayers and better public administration.

It goes without saying that I support the proposed changes outlined in the Bill. This sets about creating legal clarity regarding public services and charges. Everyone concerned, and that includes patients, their families and members of the public, deserves to know exactly what the legal situation is. That is why I believe this debate should be calm and reasoned. As politicians, we need to reassure the families of current and deceased patients. This will not be done by scaremongering and trying to score cheap political shots. Every Government in office within the past 30 years is involved in this issue. I am proud that at last it is this Government that is taking the bull by the horns and trying to address the matter.

On the repayment of past charges, the Government is working on a scheme of repayments that will be effective, user friendly and as automatic as possible. Only last week, I spoke in the House on the high level sub-committee the Minister has put in place to examine this issue. This cannot be done overnight, but it is everyone's wish, and the wish of the Government, that it is done as quickly and effectively as possible. The practicalities and legal issues surrounding the repayments are currently being worked out by the sub-committee. I am glad the Supreme Court covered this issue in its decision and stated there is no need for it to go to another court.

I laugh when I hear members of the Opposition talk about money being robbed from the people involved.