Joe O'Toole (Independent)

That does not take into account a very substantial issue. When people are living in a house, the only factor considered is the stream of income. The Government does not consider the capital value of the property. It is not worth anything to anybody living there — they go in and out, sleep and eat there and they own it. It is of some value to the people they leave after them.

If the people separate and the property is liquidated, it looks as if the people are sitting on a pot of money. This is only as they are trying to organise themselves. Surely the Government must make some appropriate arrangements to deal with such a case? Otherwise, capital assets are being trundled into current income and seen as one. It does not matter if the people are dealt with as a couple or an individual. It is surely unfair.

The Minister of State spoke of things not being thought through. This issue is significant. Will she explain what will happen if someone walks into her constituency clinic in three or four months' time, whom she knows was married but is now separated. The former husband or wife is now separated and does not have a large income; the person concerned may be on a pension. I do not know how one could deal with such a situation. If such a person sells his or her house to enter a nursing home he or she may be sitting on a pot of money having liquidated his or her assets. How can one get around that in a fair manner?