Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I hate ambulance chasing. It happened with the army deafness claims and it has begun again here not merely among the legal profession, but also among some politicians. I find that offensive. I want to read paragraph 4.25 from the report:

It may be important to point out, to the extent that this might otherwise not be apparent, that the problems surrounding the custom and practice of charges for long-term care in health board institutions did not start with, or derive from, the 2001 Act. These problems, as indicated, had their origins in the decisions taken many years previously. What the 2001 Act did, as it happens, achieve was to bring underlying problems associated with the custom and practice of charges in health board long term care institutions to the surface in a way that effectively forced their resolution. The parameters of that resolution are still evolving as this report is being prepared. The process of resolution at present underway may, perhaps, have been a somewhat unintended consequence of the 2001 Budget decision which gave rise to the 2001 Act.

While the proactive action of the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health and Children and the Government came after 29 years, I repeat it is not too late to do the right thing. Future Governments and long-suffering taxpayers will be saved.

Every fair person in this House admits that several Administrations should have done something prior to now but they did not do so. The deductions taken from patients in long-term care institutions should be refunded. I reiterate that some people with little or no interest in the persons concerned will claim these refunds.