Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The legislative programme just published contains the prescription charges Bill, which proposes to give effect to the disgraceful measure in the budget to impose charges for prescriptions on medical card holders. When will the prescription charges Bill be published? Would the Taoiseach avail of the opportunity, after careful reflection, not to proceed with this proposal? Given that this Bill will fundamentally alter the medical card scheme, what is the position of the Government in respect of the eligibility for health and personal services Bill? I have asked this question year after year, but the Government always claims not to be in a position to indicate when it will be published. Does the Taoiseach accept that this is a very important Bill? Given the other changes taking place, there is an increased urgency in bringing forward that Bill. Is the Government refusing to publish the Bill, given our individual or collective eligibility for health and personal social services?

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