Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have no doubt the staff there work exceptionally hard and diligently but the difficulty is that they are doing the Government's bidding in regard to the removal of discretionary medical cards. A Private Members' motion this week and one last year highlighted, and advocacy groups continually highlight, the fact discretionary medical cards are being removed and yet the Government denies there has been any change in policy. Even as late as last year, it was in the HSE service plan that there would be a removal of discretionary medical cards.

The reason I raise it today is that we have raised it with the Taoiseach and on Private Members' business and the Tánaiste is our last chance to get this Government to accept there has been a change and to reverse that change. Children with Down's syndrome have been asked whether their condition has improved, as have people with motor neurone disease. Let us be very clear - Down's syndrome is with one for life and motor neurone disease takes one's life and yet people are being asked these questions on a continual basis. In the House yesterday, in response to a question by Deputy Martin, the Taoiseach stated, "there is not an attempt here to show lack of understanding, compassion or consideration for people who have these challenges" and that it was a question of being fair. What is unfair is asking the oldest and the sickest to pay free GP care for those under the age of six which will, in many cases, be given to healthy and wealthy people.

See this speech in context