Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

It is useful to tease out what will be contained in this legislation which is extremely significant in terms of people's rights regarding health care. We in the Opposition would prefer if it were decided that everybody, whether privately insured or not, has the same rights in the area of health care. How comprehensive will the legislation will be? Will it deal with the mental health area, including, for example, the right of access to community mental health care within a particular timeframe? Will the legislation specify timeframes within which people will be entitled to receive care? They have just left the Gallery but I intended to welcome the guests of the cross-party group on mental health who have come from several different countries. They would be particularly interested to know whether mental health will be covered..

Will the legislation include dental services? People's right to dental care has been slashed even though, as I understand it, there is a right to comprehensive dental health care under the 1970 Act.

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