Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator O'Reilly who called for a debate on nursing homes and the fair deal scheme on the Order of Business yesterday. If the legislation, which is ready, is not to be introduced to the House until the new year, will the Leader accommodate Senators by having a debate on the issue?

I welcome the additional €55 million allocated to the nursing home scheme in yesterday's budget as an indication of the Government's commitment to the elderly. I will elaborate on this during this afternoon's debate on the budget.

It was interesting to hear George Lee state this morning that the budget did not go far enough.