John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

We have examples of people involved in the health services making comments to the effect that it is being deliberately stalled for financial reasons. Why does the Minister, Deputy James Reilly, not increase the number of staff? A total of 150 people deal with all of these applications. Why not increase this number? Why not redeploy staff from places which are not that busy and ensure the medical cards which are so badly needed are delivered?

Why did the Minister, when he knows it is not true, include this in the amendment? It is ridiculous and a farce.

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