Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Section 3 subsections (a), (b) and (c) are acceptable because they update the legislation in line with the provision of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010. However, I cannot understand the provision in the latter part of subsection (c). The programme for Government suggests there will be free GP access for everybody and the Labour Party and Fine Gael opposed the previous Government when it tried to withdraw the medical card from people over the age of 70. However, the Government is now going in the opposite direction, by reducing the eligibility limit for people over 70. This is wrong.

I know that legislation is bad when people come to my advice clinics in tears on account of something. Therefore, Sinn Féin will oppose section 3 in its entirety because of the latter part of section 3 subsection (c).

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