Families should contribute to the cost of keeping their older relatives in retirement homes, according to the Tánaiste, Ms Harney. Paul Cullen reports.
"I know this seems controversial, but is it fair that people require the State to pick up the bill, and then they get the benefits when people die?" she asked yesterday, at a Progressive Democrat seminar on the challenges of an ageing population.
"I genuinely believe we need to do more to encourage families to care for their loved ones," she said.
Her comments drew a mixed reaction. Fine Gael described them as "typical PD - all about money", but Age Action Ireland said it was "sympathetic" to a discussion of the issues involved.
Ms Harney said society was becoming increasingly greedy and too many families were leaving the responsibility for minding family members to the State or someone else.
The conference had earlier heard that health and social welfare spending will rise in coming decades as the Irish population ages. Whereas one-tenth of the population is currently over 65, one- quarter will be in this age category by the year 2050.
The Tánaiste acknowledged her views were controversial, but said the vast majority of older people wanted to remain in a familiar environment, rather than being cared for in an institution.
Speaking to The Irish Times after the seminar, she called for a "carrot and stick" approach which would both encourage and reward people for looking after their loved ones when they require care.
Asked if she was proposing to tax inheritances, Ms Harney said she didn't think the solution lay in the taxation system.
Contacted later to clarify the Tánaiste's suggestion, a PD spokesman said Ms Harney was "taking soundings" at a party seminar and wanted to start a debate on the issue. There were at the moment no "concrete proposals" to encourage people to pay for the care of elderly relatives.
"The Tánaiste feels very strongly about providing incentives for people looking after older relatives at home," he said.
Fine Gael's spokesman on older people, Mr Michael Ring, said older people in nursing homes should not be compelled to sell their houses when they go into nursing homes. "People always want somewhere to come home to; ultimately, they want to die at home."
Mr Ring said older people had made a contribution to society and each one of them was entitled to a State bed. Families should do what they could but couldn't be expected to assume full responsibility for elderly relatives.
Mr Paul Murray of Age Action Ireland said it was "anomalous" to expect sons and daughters, who might have children to care for, to have a legal obligation for the care of their parents. Whether there was a moral obligation was an entirely different matter.
Ms Harney also told the seminar that people should have the right to work beyond the age of 65 if they wished. However, there was "no future" in compelling people to work into their 70s.
She also promised that the agenda for more competition in public transport would not undermine free travel for older people.