Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Regarding No. 2, the Order for Second Stage of the Health Bill 2008, I made the point that I would object to this if the Bill was guillotined. Can the Taoiseach confirm it will not be guillotined on Second Stage? I have heard many Government Deputies down the country saying the decision on withdrawing medical cards from persons over 70 was wrong. I would like them to have the opportunity to repeat that in the Dáil. I will object to this if Second Stage is to be guillotined. I regard the Bill as the betrayal of the elderly. They were given a specific assurance by the Government that, on reaching 70 years of age, they would be given a medical card for the part they played in building up this country and sustaining it. This Bill gives legal effect to taking away what had become a right for them. They felt insulted and betrayed as a consequence. If the Taoiseach assures me that the Bill will not be guillotined on Second Stage, we will not object to it but I will vote against it now if the Bill is to be guillotined.

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