Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

He has a plethora of eminent highly qualified officials who can tell him this and that. I know he does not need to be told much because he knows it already. I have a difficulty in trying to peruse huge Bills in the space of a few days. That is all we have. I have tabled these amendments both because I believe some of this requesting of information is wrong and to see the veracity of the Minister of State's argument in this case. Unfortunately I am still not convinced and I will be pushing for a division in this case because I do not believe that there is enough protection in place.

Only a couple of years ago 10,000 people were out on the streets to protest at the content of this Bill. It is fundamental legislation. I was one of the people on the other side of the House who had to go around to the Merrion Square side of the building to get into the Dáil. This deserves to be thrashed out and discussed because people were out on the streets protesting against the removal of their entitlement to a medical card. Not only is this Bill removing the entitlement but it reduces the eligibility criteria that in 2009 brought 10,000 people onto the streets. They are not here tonight but I will advocate for them. That is why I will oppose this section and the Bill.

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