Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I support the amendment. It is a disgrace that we are focussing on poor sections of our community. The medical card has been always considered to be the standard by which we judge a person's needs. A person employed in the public service who qualifies for a medical card on income and, perhaps, medical grounds is being forced to pay this levy.

Another group which the Minister and his officials might consider is retained firemen, voluntary part-time firemen who work for local fire brigades. The Minister might not understand their situation as Dublin is privileged to have full time fire officers. In country towns, fire brigades are manned by volunteers who receive an annual retainer in respect of their work. These people, of which there are 3,000 in the country, are known as retained firemen. Many of them are happy to remain involved in a semi-voluntary capacity and to receive their annual retainer. However, when they retire, they receive no pension. These people are not demanding a pension but are asking to be exempted from putting money into a pension fund. They receive only one lump sum when they retire. The case they make is a fair one. It is wrong that people operating in a semi-voluntary capacity, who are paid a retainer fee plus over-time payments if out all night fire-fighting and so on, should have to pay this levy. I would appreciate if the Minister would request his officials to examine this situation.

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