Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

The Minister made a statement some time ago about the abolition of prescription charges. The first parliamentary question I tabled to this Government was to the Minister for Finance. He informed me Government members were fully aware and briefed in advance of the programme for Government of the difficult circumstances in every Department. Yet, the Minister for Health still made a statement on the abolition of the charges after taking up office. He looked into the cupboards, knew they were bare, saw the IOUs but still made the promise. It is not factually correct for the Minister to claim he was unaware of the difficulties. He was fully aware of them and he still insisted on making the commitment to abolish the prescription charges.

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