John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to be associated with the Minister's comments about the staff dealing with the illness benefit forms. The reason they had to come in and work those extra hours, however, was the unmitigated disaster and mess that was created by the officials and by the Deputy herself, as Minister, in unilaterally introducing these new forms on 6 August without any proper consultation. It is interesting that she said that one month before the introduction, the IMO was consulted and informed that it should co-operate with the use of these forms. That is exactly what the Minister said, and that is certainly not consultation. I also heard her apologise to the GPs. That must be welcomed. She needs to extend that apology to the people. We are dealing with some of the sickest people in the State such as cancer patients and terminally ill people who, unfortunately, were caught up in this complete mess. The National Association of General Practitioners, NAGP, to which Deputy O'Dea alluded, representing the vast majority of GPs, has tried to engage with the Minister and the Department in this entire process and has been completely ignored. Has there been or will there be engagement? It is critically important that one of the organisations that represents the vast majority of GPs has not been consulted, negotiated with or simply spoken to.

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