Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I wish I could say I felt the Minister of State had a sympathetic understanding of our argument. I feel she does not appreciate or understand the issue.

I repeat my question, which was also asked by Senator Fitzgerald. What is the thinking behind this proposal? Before any applicant comes to occupy a nursing home bed, a financial assessment will have been made. The multimillionaires, be they captains of industry, huge landowners or even lottery winners, will not come within the system anyway because they will have been excluded by virtue of the earlier financial assessment. Every person who applies for and receives State support under this scheme will have already passed a type of means test so the super wealthy will have been excluded. That is not our concern. We have in mind the so-called ordinary people - a phrase I dislike - who might be the local shopkeeper, publican or farmer. I cannot understand how this idea of the 5% per annum, capped at 15%, does not apply to these people.

While the Minister referred to the farming organisations' request for particular changes, to which she acceded, she is absolutely aware that what the farming, business and other organisations sought was the application of the three-year rule. That is what we must try to bring about from the point of view of fairness and equity. Every applicant who is in receipt of support will have already jumped the hurdle with regard to the State's view of their cash, asset value and means. However, those successful applicants will be divided into two categories, the people who have a principal private residence which could be worth any amount and the people whose kingdom might consist of the old-fashioned cottage acre, which bizarrely would result in the 15% limit applying to the cottage and no limit applying to the acre. There will be such anomalies while this clause and thinking apply. We are not talking about the big stud farm owners but a person who might have just a cottage acre or a tiny shop. The Minister must reflect on this. If the legislation is about fairness and a fair deal, this is not fair or a fair deal.