Joe Behan (Wicklow, Independent)

Fianna Fáil introduced and, over the past ten years, improved the old age pension and the widow's pension. It was a Fianna Fáil Minister for Finance who introduced the universal free schemes for the elderly such as free travel, television licences and telephones. There was never a question about how much these measures would cost or whether millionaires or the poor would benefit. There was universal access to all these measures. I was always proud of these measures, as were all members of the Fianna Fáil Party.

I cannot understand, no matter how difficult the economic times are, how Fianna Fáil can turn its back on that magnificent proposal on medical cards for the over 70s, brought forward under the leadership of Deputy Bertie Ahern in 2002. It was magnificent that people who had reached seven decades of life and who made a significant contribution to their families, communities and the country were given the peace of mind and security with access to free health care for the rest of their lives. How can the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, and the rest of his colleagues agree to the Progressive Democrats Minister for Health and Children's proposal that this should be withdrawn?

I have sat in the Chamber for every speech on Second Stage so far. We got a clear insight from the speech of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, as to what she understands by universal access. Her understanding is that if people go to the doctor, they pay different amounts of money to get the same service. It is the first time I have ever heard that as a description of universal access to health care. I do not believe that is the Fianna Fáil way.

One reason the Progressive Democrats Party was established was to damage Fianna Fáil. What saddens me most of all is that as the Progressive Democrats Party comes to the end of its existence and leaves the political stage, the damage it will really inflict is not on itself but on Fianna Fáil.

There are not many Fianna Fáil Members in the Chamber but some may be watching on their monitors. While it might be in vain, I ask them to consider deeply whether this principle of universal access is one that Fianna Fáil is willing to sacrifice at this late stage. In the past few days at the Select Committee on Health and Children, the Minister for Health and Children proposed a Supplementary Estimate of another €70 million for possible payments to consultants, either this year or next. While I welcome this morning's resolution of the pork crisis, up to €180 million will be found to assist the producers. Yet Fianna Fáil, which holds the majority in Cabinet, cannot see its way to convince the Minister for Health and Children that €16 million can be found to ensure universal access to health care for the over 70s is protected. Any Member of Fianna Fáil who is listening to me, I beg you to support this principle. It is an important core principle for Fianna Fáil people. I know this from the contacts I have had from Fianna Fáil Party members across the country who do not support this move. I beg Fianna Fáil Members to reconsider.

The past six to eight weeks have been a difficult period for me personally. I faced the choice of voting with the Government on the withdrawal of what I felt was a fundamental principle. I could have shut my mouth, just voted and hoped for the best. Instead, my political future is unsure. I entered the House as a Fianna Fáil Member. I do not know if I will ever come back to the House. Something is wrong in our society if when an elected person stands by a principle on which they stood for election but it is withdrawn and they decide to vote against it, that they must the leave the party. It was necessary for me to leave the party and defend what I felt were Fianna Fáil principles from the outside. It is an ironic and difficult situation to be in. There are many in Fianna Fáil who understand my position and others who do not. However, I stood by the principles that made Fianna Fáil a party — a party of all the people. I beg the Fianna Fáil Members please to reconsider this principle before the final vote is taken today.

See this speech in context