Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This petition provides the committee with an opportunity to consider a complaint we all get from our constituents. The criteria for the primary medical certificate are far too rigid and need to be reviewed. New categories need to be introduced as an interim measure, at least while a major review of the scheme could be undertaken in the medium and longer term. There are several simple initiatives that could be taken with the scheme to bring a degree of fairness to it. The scheme is beneficial to successful applicants but, unfortunately, there are those on the margins of decisions who were not able to get the primary medical certificate. This is one petition on which the committee should focus. If we can successfully change the regulations, it could yield considerable benefit to the many people in question.