Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like and the Government intends to ensure that universal access to GP service is available - universal meaning access by everyone in the community, including those with an illness or condition. That is the way we intend to address at least part of the issue the Deputy raised. I cannot answer directly the Deputy's question on the timeframe, but I will certainly access that information and get back to him on it.

I respectfully disagree with the Deputy on the exercise of discretion. Whereas I, as a Minister of State, cannot be across every individual aspect of the manner in which this service is operated and managed, I know that there is a system in place for the exercise of discretion. I know that because I see it in requests that come in from Deputies for issues to be addressed and for me to ask the service specifically how particular applications are dealt with. I know discretion is exercised in a manner that has been explained to this House on a number of occasions in respect of persons who are over the income limit. It is an income and means-based system; it is not an illness-based system.

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