Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

I wish to share time with the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Kitt.

This is an important item of legislation because it is a significant statement by the State about the provision of free health care and access to it. The context of this legislation is the certainty that political decisions on access to health care are always going to be emotive and intense. The lessons the Government must learn from the way in which the decisions guiding this Bill were made are that it must be clearer and more sensitive, with greater consideration.

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