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Sam Boal

'How far back do we go?': Micheál Martin calls for 'debate' on historical wrongs by the State

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said yesterday that the Government “cannot spend the same euro twice”.

TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN has said that there needs to be an “honest debate” about how far the Government goes to deal with historical wrongs by the State.

Speaking during Leaders’ Questions this afternoon, Martin said that the Government needed to consider the the issues of the day and compare this to dealing with compensation for historical failings.

Recent revelations by both The Mail on Sunday and RTÉ Investigates have uncovered Government legal strategies for nursing home charges and non-payment of disability allowance.

However, the Tánaiste said that compensation involved taxpayer money being used to fund redress schemes and that the Government had committed to spending over six billion on retrospective payments in the last two years.

“We do need to have an honest debate about it as well, in terms of how far back do we go, how much do we pay in terms of the wrongs of the 20th century?” Martin said.

“Whereas today we have real issues. We’ve an expanding population, we’ve an aging population which needs resources, and we need to advance social care and do better in many respects and that’s the call we need to make.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also said that the Government had a “responsibility to protect the taxpayer and the common good”.

“We cannot spend the same euro twice,” Varadkar said.

“We want the education budget to be spent on educating children and young people today, we want the health budget to be spent on people who are sick and need medicine today, and we want the budget for children to be spent on children who are vulnerable today.

“If too much of today’s budget is diverted to fixing the problems of the past, that has consequences.”

RTÉ Investigates revealed earlier this week that 12,000 vulnerable people had been denied the Disabled Persons’ Maintenance Allowance (DPMA) and that legal advice provided to the Government showed that if they took a case against the State, they were likely to succeed.

Secret memos to the Government showed that the State could be liable for claims of up to €700 million if cases were taken.

The issue relates to vulnerable people who entered residential care, whereby the no longer received the DPMA payments.

Martin told the Dáil this afternoon that the issue had been resolved by late Fianna Fáil Minister Seamus Brennan, allowing residents to access DPMA even when in residential care facilities.

Varadkar yesterday said that the State “didn’t have a leg to stand on” around this case and that it would examine it over the coming weeks.

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    Mute Kay Curtin
    Favourite Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 11:10 AM

    https://melanomainme.com I should declare my interest in this subject I am stage 4 patient with incurable Melanoma had many bad sunburns as a child/teen and used a sunbed before my wedding as I knew no better back then I sincerely hope none of you ever get this disease because although great advancement has been made 4 of the current global accepted best treatments are not reimbursed for Irish patients because of cost. Knowing there is a treatment available that helps 68% of patients stay alive and for some give total remission is heartbreaking we have a petition going so would appreciate support
    https://www.change.org/p/department-of-health-ireland-the-approval-of-new-treatments-for-all-melanoma-patients-living-in-ireland?recruiter=361390864&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

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    Mute john Appleseed
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    May 1st 2017, 11:19 AM

    Done. Wishing you all the best Kay.

    89
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    Mute Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 11:33 AM

    @john Appleseed: ❤️Thank You support is really appreciated

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    May 1st 2017, 11:36 AM

    @Kay Curtin: I will support this. 68% is a very high rate.

    Advances are being made. Who knows when the next break through will happen.

    Hope can be terrifying but please hope .

    22
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    Mute Niall O'Reilly
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    May 1st 2017, 11:41 AM

    @Kay Curtin: I signed and hope you quickly realise your target of 1500 signatures. Take care

    22
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    Mute Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 11:45 AM

    @Tony Daly: originally if you became stage 4 you were lucky to live 6-9 months I am alive 2 years later because of new advancements in treatments I get one on compassionate grounds from Pharma the 68% relates to IPI/Nivo we have NO access to that in ireland those figures are for two years but as time goes on and data is updated it will hopefully be even longer there is a big difference between 6 months and two years which would anyone prefer!!

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    Mute Kate Flaherty
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    May 1st 2017, 11:57 AM

    @Kay Curtin: Done, only takes a minute folks!, continue fighting the good fight Kay!xxxx

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    Mute Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 12:13 PM

    @Kate Flaherty: thanks Kate I hope very much to be around for a long time yet

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    Mute Gerry Fitz
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    May 1st 2017, 12:18 PM

    @Kay Curtin: Signed.

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    Mute Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 12:21 PM

    @Gerry Fitz: thanks for taking the time to support us Gerry

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    May 1st 2017, 11:24 AM

    It’s hard to change people’s mindsets sometimes .. especially elderly farmers . As for the lads taking the t-shirts off while they work .. unless you sunscreen on .. leave the t-shirts on . Might save your life !

    41
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    Mute Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 11:38 AM

    @Suzie Sunshine: well said Suzie Irish people joke about how little sun we get it doesn’t need to be beating down UV penetrates clouds and does the damage if you need a tan just fake it our rates of all skin cancers are through the roof it’s the fastest rise in numbers of all cancers in Ireland and Melanoma is really aggressive and unfortunately still taking many 27% that die are under age 50

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    May 1st 2017, 11:57 AM

    @Kay Curtin: your strength and positivity will see you through. . Best wishes for the future ! Petition signed …

    19
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    Mute Davor Niksic
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    May 1st 2017, 11:00 AM

    Yeah, make sure you apply plenty of sun cream when out in Irish sun…

    18
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    Mute Stouts O Shea
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    May 1st 2017, 11:02 AM

    Don’t worry, at this minute the IFA will be pressing for a subsidy/ grant for severely disavantaged farmers prone to skin cancer,
    Beacon hospital of course

    16
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    Mute Kevin Keating
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    May 1st 2017, 10:52 AM

    So dose that mean that 3 out of 4 who get skin cancer never go outside ????

    21
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    Mute Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 10:58 AM

    @Kevin Keating: you seem to spend your time inside trolling and making stupid remarks so you’re out of danger

    135
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    Mute Stouts O Shea
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    May 1st 2017, 11:05 AM

    @Kay Curtin: bitchy this morning Kay? What happened you miss Mrs brown sat night?

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    May 1st 2017, 11:28 AM

    @Stouts O Shea: she might be bitchy as she is a stage four incurable sufferer of this disease and instead of taking the article seriously and helping create awareness there are idiots trolling. Usually they troll because they have achieving nothing in their lives and this is the only way they can feel any sense of accomplishment. It’s sad really.

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    Mute Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 11:41 AM

    @Catherine Sims: thank you Catherine it breaks my heart and infuriates me when I see people being flippant about this especially when it’s preventable in majority of cases

    43
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    Mute Eoin Faz
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    May 1st 2017, 12:17 PM

    The real headline here should have been: Working outdoors increases your risk of skin cancer by X%

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    Mute Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 12:22 PM

    @Eoin Faz: agreed the prevention messages on skin cancer unfortunately are few in Ireland and a clear statement would be better there is enough confusion regarding it already

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    Mute Lisa O'Connor
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    May 1st 2017, 12:36 PM

    I want to know if there’s any mole screenings in Ireland? I’m covered in moles and already at an increased risk. I used to be so careless in the sun until i went to the doctor over a different issue and he was alarmed by the amount of moles I had. The damage is done. I do take care in the sun now but i don’t want to wait to be referred on when i find something new. I want to do something now.

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    Mute Rathminder
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    May 1st 2017, 1:01 PM

    Lisa: You should be getting regular skin checks by a dermatologist who charts and watches those moles. Your GP should be willing to refer you as you’re high risks.

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    Mute Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 1:04 PM

    @Lisa O’Connor: if you go to your GP and they feel you have any suspicious looking ones you will be referred to a pigmented lesions clinic but I agree it can be still be slow depending on what GP writes on referring letter I believe you can have a skin exam at Vhi swift clinics or there are private clinics providing mole mapping I wouldn’t rely on any of the downloaded apps technology is improving but not 100% there yet so just useful as a guide we always say if in doubt go get it checked out!!

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    Mute Shauna McDermott
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    May 1st 2017, 10:18 PM

    @Lisa O’Connor: I got my moles checked a few months ago- I have a load of them and wanted to make sure there was no dangerous ones to worry about. My GP referred me on to a specialist who did a full body mapping and analysis. It showed up clear of any issues which was fab. It was expensive but very professionally done and well worth it for the peace of mind.

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    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
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    May 1st 2017, 12:09 PM

    So 3 in 4 are not in these industries? What does that tell us? Sweet nothing

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    Mute Kay Curtin
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    May 1st 2017, 12:17 PM

    @Bridget O’Hanlon: it tells us everyone or anyone can be affected by this if they don’t take Sun safety seriously

    18
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