Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I support Deputy Kenny's request for a brief debate today on this important development. Following the passing of this Bill, Deputy McManus on behalf of my party, wrote to the President, suggesting that she might convene the Council of State, because in our view this Bill was unconstitutional. It has now been struck down by the Supreme Court, with some of the implications that Deputy Kenny has just outlined.

The House needs an opportunity, as well, to test the Taoiseach's confidence in his Minister for Health and Children. It is a bad day for her. She has already lost the chief executive of the Health Service Executive. She has been unable to commit to her promise on medical cards. The legislation which promised to provide a new "yellow pack" medical card is not yet before the House. Accident and emergency departments throughout most of the country's hospitals are not functioning. It is a bad day for the Minister for Health and Children and for the Government. It rushed the legislation through in the face of pleas from this side of the House that it ought to be more considered, given the discrepancy that was uncovered. The Taoiseach ought to assent to the request that the House be given an opportunity to discuss this.

See this speech in context