Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As I said in my reply, we have communicated with the IMO and GP contract holders generally. I have heard of this issue coming up before as parliamentary questions have been tabled about it. The position is very clear in that a person cannot be charged for blood tests in circumstances where it is necessary to assist the process of diagnosis or to monitor a condition that has already been diagnosed.

I accept as Deputy Healy said that people may feel that it is hard for them as patients to make a complaint. We have made our position clear publicly, to the IMO and again here today by me. To the extent that it is necessary for it to be tightened up further contractually, we will address that when dealing with new contracts. All I can do is assure the Deputy that the position is that charges should never apply in the circumstances I have outlined. I have not addressed the secondary issue raised by the Deputy of letters and so on but I will have a look at it.

See this speech in context