Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

What we are seeing is Government by committee and by consultants. We hear all the pious words about the Government's aspirations and we cannot disagree with them, but when the people examine its practice they realise how false those promises are and how false the Government has been in regard to the care of the elderly. There can be no question about that.

The delay in the repayment of nursing home charges was mentioned. Home help is the way forward and cutbacks hit both the home helps and many families and elderly people, who the Government claims it wishes to serve and help. My colleagues have spoken extensively about other areas where the Government has failed. Despite Government claims that it has spent a considerable amount of money, this is one area where it has failed miserably.