Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

How does the Government intend to give legislative effect to two commitments it made yesterday? The first is to index the income limits for medical cards, which was not the practice in recent years, but I understand that is now Government policy. The second is to provide that no more than 5% of those aged over 70 will lose their medical cards. What legislative vehicle will be used for this? Will it be provided for in the Social Welfare Bill?

I refer to competition and consumer legislation. The Government did not increase tax credits for next year, a levy will be imposed on the low paid and it has piled on many charges on the lower paid. At the same time, there is strong evidence of rip offs in consumer markets. We have been told to expect the merger of the Competition Authority with the National Consumer Agency. Against a background, for example, where the price of diesel pre-tax has increased by 18% in Ireland with no corresponding increase in Europe over the same six-month period, when will the legislation be introduced to give effect to a stronger consumer-competition agency in order that we can have confidence these rip offs will be tackled by Government? Another rip off mooted in today's newspapers is an increase in the cost of motor insurance.

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