Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has made the claim that some of the over-70s in receipt of medical cards are wealthy millionaires and that this should not be accepted. We should have a universal health care system. If there are wealthy individuals over the age of 70 years, we should deal with their income through proper taxation measures. The Minister disagrees with the principle of the most wealthy in society receiving medical cards, yet provision is made in the budget for automatic entitlement to a medical card for all children under six years of age, including the children of the most wealthy in this society. I agree with the concept of universal health care, but the Minister disagrees with it, which is the reason he is cutting the threshold for the over-70s. At the same time, he is providing for automatic entitlement to a medical card, regardless of income, for all children under six years of age.

The Minister spoke about Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett being institutionalised. Perhaps being in government for the past three years with the Labour Party has had an impact on the Minister.