Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Fair enough. I will study the Minister's answers to these questions. As Deputy McDonald has said, illnesses like mental health conditions and depression arising from pregnancy have to be considered carefully. The same problem that applies to medical card discretion and probity could potentially apply in this area. I find it problematic that an onus is being put on people to prove how sick they are when they are at their most vulnerable. This has to be re-examined. There is evidence that in the case of medical cards, the default position has been to refuse people and force them to beg and cajole their way through an amazing amount of hoops to prove they are sick. They have to participate in the appeals process when they are sick and least need the extra hassle and burden. I am against the whole thing. The figures given by the Minister reveal the reality of why people are getting sick in the public sector. If he intends to go ahead with this proposal, fairness needs to apply in a couple of specific areas. I will listen to Minister's answer. I have to go to a meeting, so I apologise for not being present for everything he will have to say.

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