Supreme Court to rule on plans for elderly nursing home care charges in new year

THE Government’s plan to reintroduce charges for elderly patients in residential care hung in the balance last night, pending a Supreme Court ruling early in the new year.

After a meeting of the Council of State on Tuesday, President Mary McAleese yesterday announced her decision to refer the Government’s Health Amendment (No 2) Bill in its entirety to the Supreme Court.

Under Article 26.1.1 of the Constitution, the President has the power to refer a bill to the Supreme Court for a final decision on whether it is “repugnant to the Constitution”.