Illegal nursing charges - Fair-minded compensation scheme vital

THE intriguing possibility that politicians along with public officials stand accused of “maladministration” in the scandal of illegal nursing home charges, raises serious questions over the handling of this affair by Government ministers.

The inescapable implication of the veiled hint by Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney is that politicians will be fingered in the Travers report, which is due on her desk today.

In particular, the reference could be taken as a negative reflection on former Health Minister Micheál Martin, who has since moved to the Department of Enterprise and Employment.