John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. Like everybody I fully realise the importance of the issue before us. I am also aware of the background and the response some weeks ago to the budget proposal on the withdrawal of the universal scheme. I would like to make a few points about issues that have come up not just during this debate but in recent weeks. As we are all aware the issue was part of a Government budgetary structure by way of responding to the serious financial issues that face the Government on the economic front.

I wish to clarify that this was a Government decision. For some time members of the public and some Members of the Opposition tried to tie it down to a single decision made by the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The decision taken to withdraw the universal scheme was a collective Cabinet decision supported by the parties in Government. It is important to make that point. Much discussion in this debate has centred on wondering how people in Government could make such a mistake as to withdraw medical card cover. In response to that it is fair to point out that normally people on this side of the House are accused of being too cute, as it were, when it comes to dealing with the public. We have often suffered that accusation. I respond by saying that the issue would never have come before us were it not for the times we are in.

A few minutes ago a Deputy mentioned that the greatest sin was that when medical cards were given to all the over 70s in 2002 it created an expectation of medical card cover for life. Access to free medical cards for the over 70s was granted along with many other fringe benefits quite properly and deservedly awarded over the years, including the free travel and other free schemes. Again I emphasise that they are people's entitlements. I find it difficult to square up the fact that people and Members of the House have a difficulty with the Government withdrawing the universality of the scheme and yet in 2002 we had little support. We certainly did not have universal support for the introduction of the scheme.

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