Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Regarding the nursing home debate, one newspaper put it particularly well, in that there is hardly a single person who has not felt the distress and guilt of needing to put a loved one into a nursing home. All of us who have visited a nursing home can agree with this sentiment.

Last night, I watched a television programme on the Ombudsman's report. I was somewhat disappointed by the method through which the programme handled the situation. The Ombudsman was in the studio for questions and answers with the presenter. The Minister for Health and Children also engaged in a questions and answers session. I was waiting for an interaction between the Ombudsman and the Minister, but it never occurred. This suggested a prior agreement, either with the Ombudsman or the Minister, probably the former, that there would be no interaction. The Minister made a strong statement to the effect that the Government had legal advice from the Attorney General that the Ombudsman was exceeding her role and privilege. This was a serious statement and I cannot understand why the presenter did not put it to the Ombudsman, who was sitting there with the camera on her at the time.

My greatest fear in this regard is that those who will suffer are those who must go to a nursing home. The issue will become a political football again. There is no one in the Chamber who does not feel compassion on issues of this kind. The new method of ensuring that everyone can avail of a nursing home through a deferred payments system is a good scheme introduced by the Minister. Perhaps she could attend the House and expand on what we heard on last night's programme, as there is extra confusion among the public as a result of the way the programme was handled.