Health Bill challenge - Every reason to legally vet amendment

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese should not hesitate to refer to the Supreme Court the controversial new Bill which compels elderly people to pay up to 80% of their pensions towards the cost of their nursing home care.

It is the wisest course because even members of the Government have been airing doubts about the constitutionality of the relevant legislation rushed through the Dáil last week.

Under Article 15.5 of the Constitution, which enshrines the principle that laws should not be made retrospective, the Oireachtas “shall not declare acts to be infringements of the law which were not so at the date of their commission”.