Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

This is a reasonable amendment. It allows HIQA to make recommendations in exceptional circumstances. It is harsh that somebody who is terminally ill and has many medical costs might not be given a medical card because the section of the HSE has consumed its budget. There should be some type of independent assessor in that situation. The Minister responded earlier today on the issue of people who are terminally ill and made the point that budgets are limited, even though there is discretion. When I was a member of a health board there were demand-led schemes. Once the demand was there, the money had to be found.

I understand that budgets are limited. However, there should be some means of separating cases of people who are terminally ill from the ordinary hardship cases, as it were. I support what Deputy Reilly is seeking to achieve in this amendment.

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