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

They will not be used until approximately five years from now. I have a hunch they will never be used for the purpose for which they were commissioned. When can we expect that water services Bill and will the Taoiseach explain its purpose, given the exhaustive deliberations on the subject which occurred just before Christmas?

The health (general practitioner service) Bill will introduce universal GP services to all those over 70. We know that up to 50,000, or perhaps more, medical cards were taken from people over 70 but they will now get a GP card returned to them. When can we expect that and regulations to be brought forward to provide for children under six getting GP care? The Tánaiste indicated it would happen "soon" or "early in the new year". The Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, has indicated that he "hopes" the scheme will be rolled out by the end of 2015. I know there are growing differences between the Labour Party and Fine Gael, as last week alone I counted six Labour Deputies who condemned Fine Gael.

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