Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I remind the Minister that the Title of this Bill is the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013. This is not the first time the Minister has done this in this year of 2013. Does he have any idea as to how older citizens feel about this measure? This is the second time in this 12 month period the Minister has targeted the medical card entitlement of over 70s members of our communities. They were rocked by what the Minister did earlier this year and they are incredulous that he has repeated the dose, and even made it worse in terms of those who are a couple, by whatever definition in today's terms.

I know from people I have spoken with that there is huge concern about this measure. People at that particular point in their lives feel absolutely helpless. They are being continuously targeted and as I said to the Minister on Committee Stage, I would not take any comfort from the mobilisation we witnessed when Fianna Fáil first sought to introduce thresholds to what was previously a universal entitlement for over 70s, and the massive response from the older population and many others who understood and supported them. The fact that that has not been replicated in anything like the same numbers should be no comfort to this Government because that anger is palpable, real and undoubtedly will manifest itself as they decide best.

It is unacceptable that the Minister would think we are only opposing a technicality regarding the definition of single people in the Bill. The Minister should think for a moment how he would react to what is being presented to us if he sat on this side of the Chamber. The Minister's amendment is a reaffirmation of all that is wrong with this Bill at its core.

See this speech in context