Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask the Tánaiste about a number of items.

When will the public sector pay commission be set up, how long is it expected to last and when is it expected to report? I ask the Tánaiste to ensure that every Member of the House has an ample opportunity to speak on the O'Higgins report because there will be a large number of Deputies across all parties and none wanting to speak on it.

I want to bring another matter to the attention of the Tánaiste and the new Minister for Health, whom I wish well. This morning I heard from a patient in my constituency who is terminally ill. A GP's letter was sent to the Department of Health or its medical card section with the words "terminally ill", but we have just got an e-mail back in the last half an hour saying that the GP's letter was not strong enough and one must be sent back stating "end-of-life treatment". The way in which the reply was sent is totally disgraceful. I appeal to the Tánaiste and the Minister to take this matter in hand because these discretionary medical cards are not being dealt with properly in a humanitarian way or in any way that would reflect the fears or the frightening situation in which that family finds itself today.

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