Tánaiste Michael McDowell reiterated Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's commitment to introduce a social services inspectorate to ensure proper standards in nursing homes.
He was responding to Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton, who said that Mr Ahern had told the House, on Wednesday that the Health Inspectorate Bill 2006 would put the social services inspectorate on a statutory footing. However there was no such Bill included in the Government's legislative programme.
"The Bill that appears to provide for health inspections is the Health Bill, which will not be published until 2007, no doubt after the general election."
Mr McDowell said the Health Bill 2006 was the title of the Bill which would put the social services inspectorate on a statutory basis.
Pressed further by Mr Bruton, the Tánaiste said: "The point is that the social services inspectorate already exists and, as the Taoiseach informed the House yesterday, considerable recruitment has taken place and significant resources have been applied to ensure the inspectorate is in a position to function adequately."
Mr Bruton said the Health Inspectorate Bill 2006 was a measure proposed by Labour's health spokeswoman Liz McManus.
"Perhaps the Government intends to implement her Bill and if that was the case, I would welcome it. The Tánaiste must realise there is a legal problem with regard to closing down nursing homes and the legislation is needed."
Mr McDowell said the Bill in question was "No 54 in Section C and its proper title is the Health Bill".
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Health Seán Power accused Opposition deputies of misrepresentation when it was claimed that elderly people would have to sell their homes to pay for nursing home care.
Fine Gael spokesman Dr Liam Twomey said "forcing elderly people to sell their homes to pay for healthcare is an incredible policy decision for a Fianna Fáil Minister to make".
