Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The closing date is 31 March. I have sent out tens of hundreds of applications. I pay tribute to the Irish people who went to work in the United Kingdom. I have taken great pleasure in sending such applications to people from Kerry, Donegal, Monaghan, Tipperary, Clare, Roscommon and nationwide. These people were not afraid of work but went out and built up the United Kingdom and when they contact me, I send out the forms to them. It is wonderful to encounter people who appreciate one is highlighting their ability to apply for a fuel allowance in the United Kingdom, which I believe to be worth up to €300. I am delighted to be able to highlight this anomaly and to be able to tell people they are entitled to apply for the United Kingdom's fuel allowance and am delighted they are so doing. Once again, I am delighted with such appreciation from people who never sought anything over their lives. They built up the United Kingdom, as well as this island of Ireland, they work for themselves and are delighted they are getting something back, which is nice.

The Government is engaged in a stocktaking exercise and I have no doubt but that the Minister of State, Deputy White, is committed to this process. Vulnerable elderly people over 70 should not be left without a medical card or a GP card. Effectively, what went on heretofore was whatever one was having oneself. As I noted, multimillionaires and multibillionaires were entitled to free medical cards, just as were people in receipt of pensions of €170 per week. That is inequitable and is unfair and I am confident the Minister of State will ensure this does not happen.

Finally, there was something of a hoo-hah in the budget a few months ago regarding a reduction in the telephone budget. Eircom and the other telephone service providers were able to provide telephone services for €60 or €70 because no one questioned it. Now, however, Eircom has offered a new telephone service for €19.99 per month. There was no sign of such a service until this Administration decided not to give people money to give money to Eircom, the ESB or whatever. The Government decided to give what it judged to be fair. Eircom subsequently was in a position to reduce its charges and hopefully Bord Gáis and all the other utilities will follow suit. Once again, however, if the Government provides €200, it is akin to negotiating with a builder when building a house. During the good times, builders always used to ask how much was one's mortgage. The builders then took away that mortgage, thereby obliging one to seek more money from the bank to pay for furniture and the garden. Effectively, the current Government is asking the pertinent questions and is coming out with what it considers to be a reasonable amount. It then is up to the utility companies to match that, which is what I believe has happened. I wish the Minister of State well in respect of medical cards.

See this speech in context