Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I have no difficulty with that. The committee made 21 recommendations, including that the six-month residency requirement for children be removed. The committee stated clearly it must be removed. The report was signed off by all those Oireachtas Members, who went around saying they were going to transform everything. I expected more of them and I am disappointed. That is the reality we live in and it is my job to highlight it inside and outside this House. I will not be short in doing so. As I said, the committee recommended that anyone who was resident in one of the institutions should be entitled to a payment regardless of the time spent therein. That is one of the 21 recommendations. I will not go through the rest of them. Everybody can read the report.

We are now in a situation in which the Minister cannot see fit to make that recommended change, or is constrained in some way in government from doing so. It is disappointing. That is the case he and the Government have made. They will ultimately have to account for their actions in other forums outside this House. The crocodile tears do not wash with me, and nor do the expressions of disgust, shame and condemnation, when those people cannot walk into our political Chambers, stand up to the political system and vote for what they believe is right.