Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit ar an chéad uair dom a bheith ag déileáil léi sa Teach seo - go n-éirí léi sa job nua.

I welcome the Bill wholeheartedly. During the years many of us as public representatives have come across examples of the strains and pressures exerted on families when their elderly loved ones are no longer able to look after themselves. It was easier in the old days when the extended family lived in the same area. A person with mild dementia could live within the family home securely and one would know if he or she was acting a little strangely. The world has changed since and there are now places where people live on their own in farmhouses with no family nearby.

I compliment the Minister of State on the use of the words "dignity and respect" throughout her speech. That is welcome. At a time when people talk about politicians being uncaring, we can leave party politics aside to say this is an objective we all share.

When the then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, announced this idea some years ago, the original response included significant opposition that I always considered emanated from people who never had to cope in these circumstances. We are talking about an elderly parent who may be suffering from Alzheimer's disease for whom it is unsafe to live on his or her own. No one wants to talk about the option of that person going into institutional care as it causes families huge trauma. Children feel they are betraying their parent, even if they know it is the most logical and correct thing to do to place him or her in a safe environment in a nursing home. However, I have yet to meet someone who had a parent in a nursing home and did not have a trace of guilt. All of us - I include myself in this - have been there.

The cost of nursing home care is around €3,500 to €4,000 a month, a huge amount. I know of cases where a single child is trying to meet the cost of having a parent in a nursing home and do not know how they can do it. Until recently, if money was paid for care, it could be claimed back at the marginal rate of income tax. In recent years that was reduced to the standard rate, a huge hindrance. If there are six, seven or eight people in a family, it becomes easier, but it is still not cheap. People often have no option but to liquidate an asset, often the family home or family farm. The first trauma is placing someone in a nursing home, the second is finding the money to do so and the third is selling the family home. It would be difficult to design a better way to hurt a family.

I welcome the Bill wholeheartedly, it is legislation all parties should support. I have some questions to ask about it, but the general principle is to be greeted.

The Minister of State referred to the first three years in care. When the legislation is commenced, there will be those who will have been in care for some time. I presume the first three years referred to are the first three years of paying 5% and that if someone is already in care and happens to be in his or her fourth year in a nursing home, the three year period will commence when the Bill becomes law. We should make this clear.

The maximum to be taken from the estate or assets of the person in care is 15% of the principal private residence as described in the Bill. When it comes into operation, there will be sighs of relief from families all over the country. People are living longer in better health, but that leads to other difficulties with people of advanced age suffering from associated problems.

I welcome the emphasis on the registration of nursing homes. We have long discussed this idea and the importance of health and safety inspections, medical standards and care issues. I never supported the idea of having a nursing home inspectorate; I thought the local doctor should be responsible for dealing with his area of care, while the local fire brigade should look after fire safety and so on. No one can be an expert in all the areas to be covered by inspections, from dispensing medicines to health and safety. If each of the local agencies picked up these issues one at a time, it would be better.

Perhaps Fianna Fáil is becoming socialist, but it is was great to hear the Minister of State talk about a system which would be indifferent as to whether care was public or private. I have waited for a long time to hear such phrases coming from the Government. I hope the alternative Government is listening carefully and will buy into this when it gets the chance.