Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I wish to support Senator Ryan regarding the €30 million consultancy fee. We are employing more consultants in respect of opposing Ryanair, the cuckoo in the nest, through the European Union on competition grounds. Objectively, it is remarkable, having spent €30 million, that there was no forewarning of such an outcome.

Another issue which causes much concern, both outside and inside this House, is nursing home subvention. I have been amazed in recent times by the number of people who have approached me who find it very difficult to meet nursing home charges. It is worth bearing in mind that the last time there was a change in nursing home subvention rates was 2001. Since then there has been a substantial increase in nursing home charges. The overall amount of family members' money going into a house is no longer factored in, but what has happened surreptitiously, owing to the current nursing home charges, is that pension and nursing home subvention no longer come anywhere near matching the cost of nursing home charges. A significant gap exists at present and people find it very difficult to meet the increased charges.

I want to hear from the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who has recently published legislation which does not factor in any increases in nursing home subvention rates, what is likely to happen in that regard and to recognise this. If the Minister came into this House, perhaps we could outline this area which is of concern to us all.

To get into a public hospital which caters for the elderly is almost impossible nowadays because the type of categories used by the case assessment unit mean one must be in a very critical condition, one must have had a stroke, one must be old, etc. One must fulfil all kinds of criteria before one is classified as eligible, yet beds are available in many of those hospitals. By stealth, people are being pushed into private nursing homes. That is the future direction and it is wrong.