Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Chairman asked questions ranging over a number of areas and I should be allowed the same latitude. Would the organisation have concerns if the property tax was a flat tax about ability to pay? For example, somebody living in a valuable house close to this building may have a low income.

I welcome the IMO's presentation. Some of the organisation's members are charging people in poverty and on low incomes for blood tests and for signing letters and forms. I raised the matter of the blood tests with the Minister for Health a number of times and I was happy with his reply. The HSE has given me its reply and I was happy with that. I am normally not happy with the executive but the reply was clear that the tests should not be charged for. I received a letter from Professor Tierney's organisation telling me not to make public the decision of the HSE or the Minister on this matter. Will he comment on that? Most GPs do not charge for these services. They are happy enough with what they are getting from the State but, in some practices, patients on low incomes who have to go to the GP on a regular basis, particularly the elderly or those with disabilities, are heavily penalised because they are charged on the double for these services.