Dept denies possessing ‘missing’ file on nursing home fees

The Department of Health has denied reports that a "missing" file relating to illegal nursing home charges is actually in its possession.

Reports this morning claimed the documents, which the Travers Report said were missing, were still at the department.

The reports also claimed that former Forfas official John Travers, who compiled the report into the illegal charges, had seen copies of the documents.

The papers reportedly include a letter from Michael Kelly, the former secretary general of the Department of Health, to the Attorney General seeking legal advice about the nursing home fees.

Mr Kelly, who was removed from his position by the Government yesterday, has claimed he would almost certainly have brought the letter to the attention of then Minister for Health Micheál Martin.

However, Mr Martin has insisted that he has no recollection of receiving the document.

The Travers Report, which was made public yesterday, found that the minister was blameless for the nursing home controversy because he had not been informed of the illegality of the situation.

Speaking ahead of a Dáil debate on the matter today, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he believed this, in itself, was a good enough reason for Mr Martin to resign.

"From 2001, the Supreme Court said that there was absolutely no doubt that these charges were illegal," he said.

"Ministers have a responsibility that, if they find anything or are told anything by persons inside or outside the department, it is their duty to acquaint themselves and be properly briefed.