Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

Could we get clarity as to whether the Minister intends to sit down on a formalised basis with the IMO and others to tease out the issue of the contractual changes that will be required in the implementation of the first phase of free primary GP care?

In terms of the funding of this roll-out and the fact the Minister is talking about having free GP care available to everybody by the end of the term of the Government, has he analysed the charge on the Exchequer? While we are talking about free GP care for everybody, we are currently, in Kilkenny and Carlow, counting the number of incontinence pads being given to persons in nursing homes. As we speak, they are rationing incontinence pads. I am in favour of trying to make GP care available to as many people as possible, but in the meantime that is what we are doing to the elderly in nursing homes in the State.

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