Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

Even those on very low incomes cannot get a medical card but the Government is using this referendum as a smoke screen to mask the reality. It is like the former Taoiseach, Charlie Haughey, with his toothbrushes, and the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, with the smoking ban, which is the only matter on which I would congratulate him. The Government should deal with the collapsing health service, the overdue disability Bill, the paramedic numbers in EMT and the lack of helicopter emergency medical service with the same vigour as it is dealing with this referendum.

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