Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

No. People's income is rising faster than anticipated and the data on which these decisions are based are not as up to date as we would wish and yet it is the best available. That is the reality. Incomes are rising faster than any of us realise. Given the limited resources one has to use income data to decide what one can do.

The idea of the GP only card is to allow the widest possible number of people, particularly families with children, access to their doctor. We are aware of the huge increase in drug costs and how little can be done if we include it in the traditional way. I felt there should be graduated benefits where some get all and others get a different rate. We are determined to issue those cards this year. That is the plan and it will happen.

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