Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise two issues, the first of which relates to an issue we debated earlier. It is proposed that the health (amendment) Bill will come before the House this session. We are all struck by the irony that at a time when we are to debate a Bill which proposes to give access to health services the HSE service plan envisages 40,000 fewer people being able to avail of medical cards. I refer again to the representations to all Deputies in regard to increased delays in obtaining medical cards and major difficulties in the area of discretionary medical cards. It would appear discretion has been completely abolished. I referred earlier to the situation of the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation.

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