Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the importance of the doctor-only medical card but in the context of the broader modernisation agenda which the Minister spoke of yesterday we might consider the concept of, for example, ten free doctor visits and ten free prescriptions, or five of each, for those at different levels of income so that there is a broader modernisation agenda than just having the medical card or having nothing.

I am glad the Tánaiste is here this morning as I wish to raise the issue of the medical card being used for prevention rather than just for treatment. It is important that screening programmes, for example, cervical smear tests, and BreastCheck are extended to the north west and nationally. The point made by the Irish Cancer Society that the medical card is not available for prevention and for screening needs to be addressed.

While the Tánaiste is here, I again ask her to consider the need for beds in Letterkenny General Hospital. The situation there should not be one of "bed-blocking". There has been a substantial population increase of 42% in the area, accompanied by a demography of aging people, so that these beds are a necessity and in no sense a luxury for the people of the north west. Since the Executive is unlikely to be up and running and the North-South Ministerial Council will not meet in the near future, I ask the Tánaiste what we can do in the meantime to ensure that North-South co-operation will continue between Letterkenny and Derry. Without the North-South Ministerial Council and the Executive, many of the health issues which can be dealt with at a cross-Border level are not being given sufficient priority.

There is a critical mass between Derry and Donegal which means that services missing in Derry can be provided in Donegal and vice versa. For example, there is a very good breast screening programme up and running in Derry and cervical smears undertaken on people in Donegal are being examined in Derry. Is there anything the Tánaiste can do to ensure that, in the absence of the Executive and the North-South Ministerial Council, the health issues in the north west which are dealt with in Northern Ireland will be addressed. There is a very good track record of Altnagelvin Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital working together. We need BreastCheck and all the other services, as well as beds for Letterkenny General Hospital. I welcome the concept of the doctor-only medical cards.

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