Dáil debates

Friday, 30 June 2006

Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages.

 

3:00 pm

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

My amendment referred to sections 1A and 1B, to delete lines 27 to 33, but I think people understand and I am coming from the same angle as previous speakers. Yesterday the Tánaiste made an outrageous remark in the Chamber when she accused those of us who are trying to represent groups that visited us, such as Positive Action, of making a political football of this issue. I wonder if the Tánaiste still thinks that. I can assure her that we are not doing so. As politicians we are trying to represent the interests of people who have suffered greatly. By making that sort of remark the Tánaiste is playing politics.

The point is, if it is not broken, do not fix it, and this was put to us repeatedly by these groups. They are happy with the existing legislation and were given to believe that it would be stand-alone legislation. The Tánaiste is projecting the attitude that she will tough it out and face these people down. This is the wrong attitude in these circumstances. A little more compassion and understanding for these people is required. Is the Tánaiste saying that previously people were qualifying for benefits to which they were not entitled? How many people is she talking about? This is similar to Deputy Ó Caoláin's question.

The form of the Department of Health and Children is that it is always trying to cut costs and face people down. The Tánaiste is familiar with the record. This is not the time to play hard-ball with people's lives. That is why I am opposed to these sections in particular. Certain people will be discriminated against. Yesterday I referred to a letter the Tánaiste received from Positive Action saying that approximately 40 people on its database had subsequently tested negative but suffered from severely bad health. Forty people is a small number, but if the Tánaiste has information that there are many people out there, we would like to hear it.

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