Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

It is not only a case of the guillotine, this Bill should not be on the Order Paper, full stop and end of story. This Health Bill is a further step from the provision of universal health care for all citizens on the basis of need. It is absolutely objectionable because it excludes a sector of the over 70s from its automatic entitlement to a medical card that has heretofore, as a result of a previous Government decision, been afforded full access to the medical card. It is a most cold, callous and inappropriate measure and one that I ask the Taoiseach to withdraw from the Order Paper in its entirety. It is signalled for a guillotine at the conclusion of Second Stage at 1.30 p.m. and a second guillotine is signalled for 6.30 p.m. on all remaining Stages. It should be removed from the Order Paper immediately and the Government, however late in the day at this 11th hour, should take the decision to withdraw the measure and to respond to the cry of the senior citizens of this country and all who stand for health care justice in this jurisdiction. The legislation should be withdrawn, as it does not include measures that would be beneficial to our citizenry and it is counter to all that was committed to in the programme for government, which signalled the Government's intent to extend eligibility. This legislation is designed to curtail it.

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