Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister states the Government does not stand over the withdrawal of medical cards from very sick children, but that is what it does every day. Today there are children who will be refused the help, attention and treatment that they deserve as citizens. The Minister says he disagrees with Sinn Féin. Thanks be to God that he does. I am an Irish republican and citizens have rights. Vulnerable citizens, including the sick, the aged, the young and those whom society needs to protect should be afforded these basic elementary rights. As I said, it is disappointing to come into the House following the recent elections which caused the resignation of the Tánaiste - I wish him and his family well and understand there is trauma in all of this for him and his family, but this is not about personalities, rather it is about policies - and to hear the Minister once again reinforce this policy and say the Government is to stand over it. He has said we cannot afford this, but we can afford to pay big bankers, ministerial salaries and so on. It is almost as if he has his head buried in the sand. On his reference to "hard cases," what does he mean by this? Why does Government not act intelligently and in a swift manner restore citizens' entitlements to medical treatment on the basis of medical need rather than personal wealth?

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