Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the Bill. When ever spending reductions or cutback are proposed, it is always difficult for people. This Bill is no different. The fact is we are living in difficult times. This is obvious in every sector of society. No matter what sector one speaks with, everyone appears to have problems, particularly in running their homes or business and we, in running the country, have a difficulty as our finances indicate and we must do the best we can for the people. That means we must have sensible and good services for the people, whether in health services, education, transport or agriculture, and it is hard to do that in difficult times. The proposed cutback in medical cards is a sensitive issue and has to be seen to be fair. Therein lies the challenge. There are many areas I wish to highlight and bring to the attention of the Government, the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, who is present. There are many sections of society who should not lose the medical card, for example, women with cancer. In my constituency I meet people suffering from cancer. I do not have to tell anybody in the House of the trauma people go through when families, particularly a mother, are hit by cancer. I have witnessed situations in my constituency where people, whether in the public or private sector or the self-employed, have to undergo a means test and an assessment.

I speak in particular about the self-employed, people who are trying their best to keep a business going who might be struck down by an illness such as cancer. When they apply for a medical card they cannot get it. In this day and age when we can give a lot out for nothing and we try to look after people, it is desperate that those people are left without a medical card. I have raised the matter previously, but nothing seems to change. I request that in future assessments of the medical card situation the Minister for Health should look at those vulnerable people. It is unfair on them at a hard time in their lives.

I understand the Government needs to find areas in which to make savings, but savings could be made in other areas. Some of the earlier speakers talked about the drug purchase scheme, which leaves much to be desired. There needs to be more consultation with the people working in the health service. Every week in my clinics and elsewhere, I come across people who work in the health service. They point out several opportunities to cut out wastage. We need more consultation with the people working on the front line. When they come to our clinics protesting about what we are doing, they say they could find savings but have not been consulted. In future the Minister should try to consult more with the people and he will find great knowledge and ideas for savings without having to touch the areas that affect people. We were all elected to public life to try to help people. Medical cards provide great security for people. In future, we should consider other ways to make those savings and avoid impacting the most vulnerable in our society.

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