Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

This is about promised legislation on the imposition of prescription charges on medical card holders. I am indicating to the Tánaiste and the House that pharmacies are carrying notification that from April, these charges will apply. April fools' day is on 1 April next week and there is no indication that the legislation has been published. I hope, irrespective of what the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, has said, that this is an indication of the Government thinking about this again. There was no publication in advance of next week and there is no signal of intent to address such legislation in the coming week. Will the Tánaiste put all the unfortunate people who have this vista waiting on them out of their misery and declare that the Government will not proceed with the charge and the process of legislation in this regard has been scrapped-----

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