Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I do not blame the Government. It gives credence to the arguments put forward by people aggrieved at the budget, particularly when one considers the lack of increases in some areas and the substantial increases in others. The fact that an elected Member of our national Parliament has a medical card makes a joke and a mockery of the system. It is a joke that someone who is on a handsome salary, used that medical card on at least three occasions since being elected to the other House.