Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to engage with him on my behalf and that of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. The cases the Deputy has talked about are very emotive. We know that means could be a barrier but all we are looking for is temporary consideration for six months while the person concerned can adjust to the news of the diagnosis. We are not saying what the term or condition would be. Where a GP submits the MC1 form from the surgery in circumstances where the consultant has written to the GP, I take umbrage with a clerical official saying that a person does not warrant support.

The HSE needs to look at that. In fact, when it comes with medical advice for support that temporary period should not be based on a person receiving a terminal diagnosis. It is in its response that it looks at emergency cases. Emergency cases mean people with a life-altering condition or a diagnosis that has a life-altering effect on them.

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