Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

Comments were made earlier about the €30 million that is supposed to go towards care of the elderly but there is probably €30 million still lying in the bank for the doctor-only medical cards that were to have been issued and there is probably still €30 million in the bank for the ten-point plan announced in the budget. It was promised this money would be spent on the health services but I do not believe it has been spent and believe it is still in the bank, lying next to the €56 million which I hope the Government has found by now.

Going into the next election, the credibility of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, and that of the Government, will hinge on these issues and their commitment to looking after the elderly. This is why this legislation is so important. There is a raft of legislation lying around dealing with the health service, such as the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2002, a pharmacy Bill, a Bill relating to nurses and a Bill regarding the Health Information and Quality Authority. This legislation was promised as far back as 2001. Let us examine eligibility. A range of legislation regarding the rights of elderly people within our community has been lying around since 2001. It is time the Government stopped telling us that such legislation is on its way. These announcements are all we seem to hear from the Government. Even the announcement today by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children about the €200 million for medical education was slightly disingenuous because only €13 million will be spent in 2006. I do not know how she came up with a figure of €200 million but this is a question for another day.

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