Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

However, this is not the only part of our primary care sector in severe difficulty. I already referred to the virtual collapse of the free dental scheme, while much more serious is the rapidly emerging shortage of GPs. We have an aging general population and an aging GP population, with older doctors retiring and not enough younger doctors coming on stream to replace them. There are major problems with the medical card scheme as older doctors retire and their complement of medical card patients, many of them elderly, are placed temporarily on another doctor's panel, and they then must find a new doctor to take them on.

These are all crises either occurring at the moment or looming on the horizon. They are wider issues which will become increasingly important, but they are all relevant to the pharmacy dispute. They are part of the pattern of totally inadequate and often diminishing services for patients as a direct result of bad policy pursuit and bad management.

I have made many appeals to the Minister in this House over the past 11 years and I have concluded that it is a futile pursuit. She clearly has a closed mind and a cold heart where health equality is concerned. Therefore, I must instead appeal to the Fianna Fáil backbenchers and to whomever they trust in Cabinet. I also urge the Green Party Members and Independent Deputies, such as Deputy McGrath and others, who support the Government to act in unison——

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