John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

It is a gross untruth to suggest that the Tánaiste, any member of the Government or any Member on either side of this House does not want to do the very best for the elderly and to ensure their needs are met. It is worth recording that the genesis of the Bill regarding nursing home charges came after successive Administrations ignored the explicit advice they received on this matter. It was the Tánaiste who finally acted on it and she did so in good faith by bringing forward legislation which, as is her right, the President referred to the courts. Such a referral has taken place in almost every year I can recall. The legislation is sometimes upheld and on other occasions is rejected, as in this case.

I understand the new legislation is expected to come before the Oireachtas before the summer and we will deal with it then. Some of the comments made today must be rebutted and debated. As the Cathaoirleach is about to tell me, however, the Order of Business is not the time to deal with those matters in detail. I stress, however, that some of the remarks made are untrue.