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

As the Deputy knows, the ongoing consistent position over the years has been income based with different categories - over-70 and below-70 - and there has been particular provision for those with a terminal illness. One concern in terms of taking a one-disease approach is the question of what about other chronic diseases. A number of Deputies have articulated on behalf of cancer patients. The Minister for Health will examine that prior to the next budget but there is then an issue in terms of parity with other chronic diseases from which people suffer. In health, there are many complexities around issues such as this.

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