Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senator MacSharry on tabling the motion. It is important to ensure the issue of older people remains on the political agenda. As previous speakers indicated, there is very little difference between the motion and the Government amendment. Senator Mooney has stated, however, that the matter will be put to a vote. I am of the view that the intent behind the amendment and the motion, namely, to assist older people in any way possible, is the same.

Senator Cullinane engaged in his usual effort to bring a plague on all our houses and stated that we are all - Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, etc. - to blame for everything. He referred to an agenda of cuts. I would be the first to admit that, out of necessity, there have been cuts in many areas and Departments. It is all very well to refer to cuts but the Senator's party has criticised the Department of Health for possibly going over budget to the tune of €49 million in the first quarter of this year. Sinn Féin's spokesperson has castigated the Government for spending so much money on health. The party to which I refer cannot have it both ways. Its members come before the House regularly and advocate the introduction of policies in this jurisdiction which are different from those it is implementing in the North. I will not, however, engage in a debate on Sinn Féin's policies or the lack thereof at this point.

The positive ageing strategy refers to home care. People who are growing older want to continue to live independently in their homes for as long as possible. The positive ageing strategy commits the Government to assisting, in any way possible, people to continue to live at home. It is my experience that once people enter nursing homes, many of them give up the ghost and say "I am finished because I have left my home". I am not in any way seeking to castigate the staff of nursing and residential homes who do a wonderful job in the context of stimulating the elderly people in their care. It is a fact, however, that many people believe themselves to be finished once they enter a nursing home. That is very sad. Older people in nursing homes have informed me, as have their relatives, that this is how they feel.

I compliment the many voluntary groups and organisations that provide assistance in keeping people in their own homes for as long as possible. These groups and organisations do wonderful work. The House has been at the forefront in advocating the cause of the elderly. When it was established, the first thing the Seanad Public Consultation Committee did was to invite representatives from various non-governmental organisations, NGOs, which deal with the elderly and those who advocate on their behalf to come before it. The committee produced a report which contained many recommendations. Most of those recommendations are included in the positive ageing strategy. We can take pride in the fact that this House gave the lead in respect of this matter in the context of the report it produced. Even though the positive ageing strategy was only published last year, it is time we reviewed the position with regard to how the recommendations to which I refer are being acted upon. Such a review could be carried out over six or 12 months. We need to obtain regular updates on the actions that are having a positive effect and those which are not being implemented at all by the Government. There is a need for an ongoing review to take place in respect of this matter.

Senator Noone referred to a statement made by Nursing Homes Ireland. I have no gripe against nursing homes and I am of the view they do a wonderful job. I accept also that private nursing homes must make profits. However, I do not agree with the use of terms such as "a market solution" and "profit" where the elderly are concerned. I honestly do not believe it is acceptable to refer to a marketplace in the context of older people who have done so much for our country over a long number of difficult years and, indeed, decades.

I reiterate that I commend Senator MacSharry on tabling the motion in order that issues relating to the elderly might be kept on the agenda. The Minister of State has come before the House on many occasions, she was present for the debate on the report of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee and she ensured its recommendations were included in the positive ageing strategy. As she stated, issues relating to the elderly have not perhaps been the subject of the same level of debate in this House or elsewhere as has been the case with other matters. This matter is going to go to a vote. However, I believe we are all in favour of achieving the same goal in respect of it.