Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

On proposed legislation, in terms of the governance of the health service I am extremely concerned with what I would perceive to be an absence of overall governance and some serious issues emerging as a result. I instance today the situation regarding the delay in medical card applications and particularly the renewal of medical cards. I ask the Taoiseach to update the House on when we can expect to see the Bill on the governance of the Health Service Executive since the changes the Minister announced. In the interim, while we await that legislation, will the Government take immediate steps to come to the assistance of those who are chronically ill and depend on their medical cards for life-saving medication in that while their applications are in for renewal they would continue to receive cover for the medication they require? It is an urgent issue. Deputies across the House are getting calls about it. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene directly on that specific issue while we are awaiting the HSE (amendment) Bill on the governance of the health service.

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