Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

This measure again highlights the fact that the Dáil is being changed from an accountable Parliament into a tokenistic talk shop. We cannot be expected to deal with legislation and changes of this nature in such an offhand way and at the 11th hour of a Dáil term.

The measure is also a further indication of how the Government is facilitating the eclipse of health by health care. It has nothing to do with the health of the nation and is designed to make health into a commodity. The Government is losing the plot. We must learn why people are not healthy and we will not do so if this commodification of health and profiteering in respect of people's illnesses continues.

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