Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last week the CEO of the HSE confirmed that he would not be able to deliver promised services on the current level of funding. A range of additional services are listed in the programme for Government in elderly care and acute hospitals. That is a very serious statement from the CEO. It is the first time I have heard a CEO being so emphatic in that regard. It has also been confirmed that the Taoiseach and his Cabinet colleagues amended the HSE service plan to try to cover up the fact. Such interference in the plan that was presented to Cabinet is also a first. The language was changed because the members of Cabinet did not like what it said about the incapacity to fulfil promises and provide the services that were required. The Taoiseach owes it to people, including all those involved in the health service, to list what services will not be provided. What area of the programme for Government will not be provided for this year and what services will not be provided? The people legally responsible for delivering services said they could provide a list of what they cannot do that is required. Why is the Government hiding the information? They cannot provide the list to us. Does the Taoiseach consider it acceptable that the Cabinet should rewrite a national service plan behind closed doors in Government Buildings?

I suggest that the Taoiseach visit some accident and emergency departments. The accident and emergency consultants issued a very strong statement today. I also urge him to visit some of the services that have been closed as a result of decisions taken by the Government. I will provide the details on the cases I raised earlier with regard to medical cards. I refer to medical cards and not GP-only cards. That is the new game in town. A medical card for people with disabilities is far more comprehensive than anything a GP card could ever give. The Government must be aware of that and not try to pull a con trick in terms of reducing everything to GP-only cards for everyone. We have given the Taoiseach details of lots of individual cases. That is not the issue. The policy the Government is pursuing is cruel and shameful and it is hurting the sickest people. People at the front line cannot believe what the Government is up to. They cannot comprehend why the Government would visit such cruelty on people by taking cards from deserving cases on the grounds of medical need such as chronic illness. It flies in the face of the programme for Government. The Minister of State, Deputy White, should not nod his head. It does.

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