Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I support what has been suggested by my party leader, Senator Brian Hayes, on the need to debate the nursing homes scandal this afternoon. It is the least we can do and is what the public would demand. When this issue is fully ventilated and dealt with, I would hope that between now and the recess we could have a broader debate on the issue of care of the elderly. This has been the subject of many reports but we need to seriously contemplate this crucial issue. The demographics are changing and the population is becoming elderly. In the future the issue of care of the elderly will be the biggest political issue here. The elderly may be out of political fashion today but we have a major responsibility to put in place systems and structures to ensure they are dealt with in a fair and reasonable fashion and can retire in comfort. Issues such as the carer's allowance, carer's benefit, nursing home subventions and so on need to be debated and addressed. I hope, once we have dealt thoroughly and openly with the current scandal, that we will look in a broader fashion at care of the elderly and their needs and the needs of those retiring. They have built up this country to what it is and we must be seen to respond to them.