Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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If I could just put this in context, the HSE is sending out letters on medical card reviews to those aged over 70. The most recent tranche of letters required a response by 16 June. Today is 12 June which means that is in four days time. If the information is not received by the HSE by 16 June, the medical card will be cancelled by the end of the month. Side by side with that we have 58 people earning more than €80,000. They are well paid. They have not responded and 1 July looms. The situation has been ongoing for the past year. I lived in the world of deadlines. There appears to be one law for the ordinary Joe and another for a different cohort of society. I know the deliberations involved, but could Mr. O’Brien explain why it has taken so long? What are the stand-offs and key points?