I join with the leader of the Fianna Fáil Party in expressing my sympathy and that of my party to the family of the late Micheál Lynch on his sad passing.

Just two weeks ago, it seemed possible that RehabCare would have to withdraw services from more than 3,000 people who depend upon them. It was a stressful time for those service users and their families. In this election week, the Government thankfully has found €2 million to fund the gap for Rehab this year. We know that most of that money - €1.5 million, I understand - is simply to cover insurance costs.

There are many other community and voluntary organisations delivering important health and social care services to people with disabilities. Like the Rehab Group, they are all under severe pressure. While what the Government has done for Rehab is welcome, is it not time that we provided an indemnity for the myriad of section 38 organisations that provide vital health and social services and are under enormous pressure to find affordable insurance?

I actually neglected to join Deputy Micheál Martin in expressing my condolences to the family of Micheál Lynch, who has passed away. He is a former Member of this House and very much a respected one.

The issues around the deficit that Rehab was facing were resolved yesterday following engagement with the HSE, the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. Deputy Howlin raises a very valid issue, which is the cost of insurance for section 39 organisations - those that are not part of the public sector but are almost entirely funded by the public sector. We will have to give consideration to whether an indemnity should be extended to them but one should bear in mind that when one does that, it exposes the taxpayer to potentially massive claims-----

We are paying wodges of money now anyway.

-----for which the taxpayer may have no responsibility. That would have to be thought through and we would have to calculate what the potential cost and liability would be, but I take the Deputy's point and I think it is something that we need to consider.