Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

At the time prescription charges for medical cardholders were introduced by the then Minister, Mary Harney, in 2010, the then Fine Gael spokesperson on health - I wonder who that would have been - described them as "aimed at the most vulnerable, sickest and weakest in our society". He pointed to international research showing that "any disincentive for people to take medicine should be avoided as certain patients will inevitable end up in hospital." He went on to point out that the cost of a single day in hospital would wipe out any supposed savings from the charges for prescriptions.

What has changed with the Minister? Why has his response changed from the position he articulated quite correctly in 2010? Why are we seeing the continuation of prescription charges for medical cardholders?

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