Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

When the Taoiseach was in reflective mood responding to Deputy Ó Caoláin, he talked about the value of the committee system and the very valuable work that is done on legislation in committees. I agree with him about that. However, there is legislation which the Government stated it wished to have enacted before the end of the year, namely, the Bill to take the medical card from pensioners.

After this week there will be only six sitting days before Christmas. I am sure the Taoiseach will agree this important legislation should get the fullest debate and examination in the House, on Committee Stage and other stages. When will the Government publish the Bill in which it threatened to take the medical card from pensioners? How much time will be provided in the House for that Bill to be debated? Is the Government going to try to railroad it through and get it passed in the middle of the night in the hope that nobody will notice it?

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