Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As Sinn Féin understands it, section 6 abolishes the requirement to backdate State support to the commencement of the nursing home support scheme for those who were in nursing home care prior to that scheme commencing. That is particularly unfair. The digest to the Bill states that it is not known how many people this will affect. However, approximately 700 people are still in receipt of payments under the previous subvention scheme. This gives some indication of the overall picture and it seems a considerable number. What is being done is unjust because it places at a disadvantage those persons in care over a longer period, which is regrettable. In such circumstances, Sinn Féin will be opposing the section.