Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I very much appreciate having the opportunity to speak on this motion. It saddens me to need to come to the House to speak on such a motion which arises because the Government is so shameless. Thousands of people over 70 years of age were on the streets of Dublin today. I heard on the news this morning that some of them had got out of their beds at 3 a.m. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Harney, was not out of her bed or even awake in her bed at 3 a.m. thinking about people on pensions, some with diabetes, some in wheelchairs and others who have had strokes or heart attacks. They got out of their beds and travelled from throughout the country.

I heard Deputy Mary White speak on our local radio station this morning. She was asked why she gave the Minister for Finance a standing ovation after his Budget Statement. She said that she was so overwhelmed by the budget that she gave him a standing ovation. She said that at no stage in the Minister's speech did it mention taking the medical card form the over 70s. I am very disappointed that Deputy White has left the House.

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