Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Glynn for his comments and the Minister of State and his officials for their help and explanations during the debate on the Bill.

I welcome the passing of the Bill, although I have reservations about some aspects. We will all watch with keen interest the outcome of the court cases concerning those who were forced to go down the private route, who tried but were unable to get a bed in a public nursing home. In one respect I hope they are successful and in another I hope they are not because I am aware of the bill that will arise from that. I hope we have all learned from this experience. This issue has been going on for the past number of years. There was ambiguity over it and we finally have closure on it. It is vital, however, that the money is given to those who are owed it. The State is very quick to take money from anyone who claims an overpayment and it is only fitting that the State would pay back the money overcharged.

It is vital that the Minister examines the issue of nursing home charges to ensure patients are fully aware of what they are liable for in that regard. When one gets a call from a nursing home to say it is taking money out of one's elderly relative's account, be it a father, mother, uncle or aunt, for a particular aid and appliance, one is in a vulnerable position because one must assume the nursing home is telling the truth. We do not want a scenario to arise where people must give back money they should not have been paid and then subsequently cases arise where money was taken out illegally on top of that. We must be careful to monitor that.

I hope this private company — we do not yet know its name — gets the work done within the two years. I still have not received a reply to my freedom of information request. I hope it will be cheaper in the long run, that it will get all the work done within the two year period and that we can all move on. I hope also we will not follow the line of the Army deafness claims, the redress board or other cases where budgets were overrun and timeframes extended.

I welcome the Bill. I would have preferred to see various changes in the Bill but at least it is a start. I hope the private company involved, the HSE and the Department of Health and Children will ensure that those who are owed money get it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many of them are now deceased but those who are still alive can put it to good use.