Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----who, when he was pressed on three occasions, finally coughed it out that there has been a change in policy. I ask the Minister of State to take that point on board.

Regarding medical cards for children under five which the Government has announced, that appears to be a robbing Peter to pay Paul exercise. While everybody concurs that giving children under the age of five a medical card is a laudable exercise, it is taking medical cards from older people and sicker people to fund the cards for children under five, and he has not given a start date for that measure. I asked the Taoiseach this morning if it will require legislation to roll out medical cards for children under five and the position with the GP contracts but he was unable to answer that question for me. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State would address that issue when replying.

I want to comment on the impact on older people of the removal of the bereavement grant. There has been too much dismissal of that by Government spokespeople - shop around and get a cheaper funeral. Nothing could be more disrespectful to the people of Ireland.

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