Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will keep calling it out for what it is. The Minister of State can shake her head until tomorrow but I know what I am talking about.

I compliment the nursing homes I have worked with for many years, including St. Joseph's in Killorglin, Tír na nÓg in Kenmare, St. Joseph's nursing home in Kinnear, Our Lady of Lourdes nursing home in Kilcummin, Kilcara House nursing home, Killarney nursing home, the Sonas nursing home in Milltown, Willow Brooke care centre in Castleisland and all the fine nursing homes we have in Kerry. They are all under pressure. I compliment and thank the people who work in them. They are working in very stressful circumstances trying to balance the books every week, keep the doors open and provide a service.

I make one prediction to the Minister of State, and I hope that I am wrong. Not long ago, it would have been outrageous to think that a person with a housing need would have to be housed by the State in a hotel. We are not a million miles away from the day the Government will be housing older people in hotels and paying nurses to mind them inside.

See this speech in context