Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

In the same vein, in his budget speech and in what I can only describe as an effort to excuse the Government's reneging on its promise to extend the medical card, as contained in the programme for Government, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance indicated that the Minister for Health and Children is carrying out a review of eligibility. The eligibility for health and personal social services Bill has been long promised and is long overdue. Will it be further delayed because of the review being undertaken by the Minister for Health and Children in respect of entitlements or will the Taoiseach take the more correct approach and bring forward that legislation so Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas will have the opportunity to directly impact on this so-called review and help guide this Government correctly for the first time in respect of the entitlement to health care of all citizens on the basis of need?

See this speech in context