Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to address the House this evening on the Government’s commitment to extend medical card provision to all children in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance, DCA, as we set out in our agreed programme, A Programme for a Partnership Government.

I would like to acknowledge at the outset that there is broad agreement on this issue across the House, and I am very encouraged by that, but no one political party holds a monopoly of concern or compassion for the parents and children who need to see this policy implemented.

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