Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

The Bill provides that the Health Service Executive may determine that a person is likely to require care services for the remainder of his or her life. This provision, in conjunction with section 3(2) of the Bill, acknowledges that the definition of long-term residential care services contains a minimum time period of 30 consecutive days. Its underlying intention is to enable the HSE to commence payment of financial support from the date the person enters the nursing home, rather than after the expiration of 30 days. I appreciate the intention of Senator Norris's amendment which is to provide for the same effect without the need for a determination regarding the likelihood of a person's care needs in the remainder of his or her lifetime. However, I reassure the Senator that the existing wording was the subject of careful consideration by the Office of the Attorney General. The wording reflects the advice of that office. At the same time, it achieves the policy intention of both the Senator and the Government of ensuring financial support can be paid from the first day of a person's time in care. For this reason, I do not propose to accept the amendment. However, I hope my response has offered the Senator sufficient reassurance on the matter.