Supreme Court to rule on legality of nursing home legislation
16/02/2005 - 07:52:55The Supreme Court is due to rule today on the constitutionality of proposed new legislation allowing the Government to deduct nursing home fees from old age pensioners.
The Government rushed the Health Amendment Bill through the Oireachtas late last year after the Attorney General warned that the long-running practice was legally unsound.
The Bill, which was referred to the Supreme Court by President Mary McAleese, requires elderly patients in State care to pay up to 80% of their pensions towards their nursing home bills, even if they are medical-card holders.
It also retrospectively legalises these fees and prohibits compensation claims from nursing home residents who have been subjected to illegal deductions in the past.
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