Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I support the calls for a debate on care of the elderly. This is a matter I have raised with the Leader on numerous occasions in the past several years. I regret to say that since the death of the late Minister, Séamus Brennan, no Government Member has demonstrated sympathy or empathy for elderly people. Government policies and departmental measures have lacked any feeling other than a cold and dispassionate attitude towards the elderly. I have previously called for a constitutional referendum on protecting the elderly. I favour the proposed referendum on the rights of children but we urgently need to consider the need to protect the rights of the elderly across a broad range of services.

I am surprised that people responded as they did to last night's "Prime Time Investigates" given that we have developed a cold house and society over the past five or six years as far as elderly people are concerned. We need an urgent national public debate to highlight and respond to the crisis. The Seanad and, I presume, the other House spent many weeks debating the fair deal scheme as if it was the panacea for elderly people.

Our only aspiration in legislation for elderly people, including the fair deal Act, is to provide them with a nursing home bed. That is a pathetic response to the needs of the elderly. Much work remains to be done, whether on carers, home care packages or in other areas, and we must aim high. Demographics show that the population is ageing and new problems are emerging all the time. We must be bold, big and brave and consider the possibility of providing constitutional protection for elderly people. To do so would be to make a political statement on what we think of elderly people. It would also provide a mechanism to ensure we never again observe the problems shown on "Prime Time Investigates" last night.