Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I too support the motion. As with colleagues right across the Chamber, I am very concerned about what emerged in the "Prime Time Investigates" programme, namely, that a leading pharmacy chain could abuse its power in such a way and over-claim to the tune of €12 million. I am even more concerned that it could do this without anyone noticing. The HSE needs to outline to us exactly what action it is taking to get to the bottom of this issue. This is taxpayers' money, and it is incumbent on the HSE to ensure it is applying the proper checks and balances when dealing with it. More stringent controls need to be put in place to ensure that these incidents will not be repeated. The waste of public money must not be tolerated.

It is unacceptable to make people who are struggling pay prescription charges. It is disgraceful that those on pensions and social welfare have to pay the charges at all. It is giving with one hand and taking away with the other, and it is adding to the burden of those who are sick. A pensioner must pay bills for electricity, heating and the telephone and must also pay bin and prescription charges, and that is before buying food. A law-abiding pensioner in this country finds it hard to buy a loaf of bread. We hear so much about rural isolation. It features in my constituency, Cavan-Monaghan. The telephone is such a necessity to those living in rural areas. They may not hear from a person from one week to the next. Heat and light are vital needs of those in rural areas.

I disagree with subjecting people on long-term illness benefit to the fees. People are outraged at the latest revelation. They are pushed to the pin of their collar. When we pick up the newspaper and read about one of the leading pharmaceutical chains abusing its power, how can we have faith in the system? We are talking about capping prescription charges when we should actually be talking about abolishing them.

There are a number of independent pharmacists. Previous speakers referred to community pharmacists, who - as is the case with post offices and Garda stations - play an integral role in rural areas and in making up their social fabric. There are many pharmacists acting in the capacity of general practitioners in advising and providing a service to people in rural areas. Most unfairly, they are also being tarred with the same brush as the others as a result of the revelations that have come to light.

I return to Lloyds and its efforts to take advantage of the Irish taxpayer. These funds, totalling €12 million, could have been used to address so many areas of need. They could have funded 600,000 home help hours or provided 500,000 additional personal assistant hours for people with disabilities. The money could have enabled the recruitment of 350 nurses and speech, language and occupational therapists. It could have provided 12,000 medical cards or 1,500 home-care packages. This was all at a time when 30,000 discretionary medical cards were being taken away. The HSE must conclude its investigations without delay and put more robust procedures in place to restore confidence in the system and ensure taxpayers' money is being properly spent.

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