Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I could not agree more with Senator Devine about day-care places and the need to support them as a preventive model which would keep people out of nursing homes. I was with my own mother in a day-care centre yesterday. They are fantastic and are absolutely out of this world. They involve nurse-led care. Not enough people know what day-care places actually entail. There is a nurse in charge and nurses provide podiatry, physiotherapy and dietetic services. They are fantastic places. The longer people avail of such services, the more people do so, and the more such places we provide, the less likely it is that people will require long-term nursing home care. I accept the broad context of the Senator's point and support her 100%. That is not to take away from the debate we are currently having.

Senator Richmond said that this is not only about negotiation but about resolution. Both I and the Minister for Health agree with him, but we have to respect the process laid down by law. We share the House's desire for a resolution, because it does not bring either the Minister or me any satisfaction to think that there are families out there tonight with a question mark over their future. That is not acceptable. No family or loved one who is resident in one of these homes should be in such a situation. We have a vested interest in this and are 100% with the Senator in wanting this to be brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible.

Senator Boyhan acknowledged the staff, which I echo. A fantastic ethos has been developed by the staff in both St. John of God Hospital and across the country who care for the elderly. That must be recognised in every single debate. I welcome Senator Boyhan highlighting that fact.

Senator Humphreys raised a number of issues external to today's debate which I will not go into. I am happy to come back here on any occasion-----