Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

I join the Deputy in welcoming the guests who have just departed. I hope they will learn from us just as we learn from them. The legislation will be as comprehensive as possible. Although we have had some recent legislation on medical cards and long-term residential care, and legislation is imminent on prescription charges, there is clearly a need for comprehensive legislation on eligibility. There are significant issues to be addressed.

I do not share the Deputy's view, even in the case of primary care, that there should in the short term be free access for everybody to everything. If we were to send Deputy Reilly to negotiate with the Irish Medical Organisation, as he has done in the past, I do not like to imagine the costs he would come back with. Within the available resources we must ensure that those at the bottom have access to all the services they require.

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