Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I will put two or three questions to the Minister. Is the budget the result of the collective wisdom of all Government Ministers? If so, the uncertainty about the content of the budget pertaining to medical cards displayed by all Ministers immediately after its delivery in the House is adequate evidence of the Government's careless and callous approach to the elderly.

Did the Government consider targets other than the elderly? Why did it not tax the many tax exiles who, from afar, appear to have more influence on Government policy than Ministers? The Minister must emphatically state that she will withdraw this measure which is a disaster for the Government and elderly people. Why did they not tax the many tax exiles we have, who seem to have more power from afar in the delivery of Government policy than the Ministers? It is important that the Minister for Health and Children should emphatically state tonight that she is withdrawing this disaster for this Government and for the country's elderly.

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