Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Is the issue not that successive governments penalised medical card holders who needed nursing home care? That was the question I asked earlier. Throughout that entire period of 30 years, did no Minister ever say, "Hang on, why are we not providing medical card patients with proper care when they need it?". Does the Taoiseach accept that fundamental to this entire issue is the fact that there is no legal entitlement to public healthcare? We talk about, and have always talked about, eligibility for care even though in many cases that care is not provided. Is it not the fundamental issue that there is no legal entitlement to public healthcare in this country, irrespective of a person's circumstances? There is no legal entitlement in the way in which there is a legal entitlement to social welfare. Is it not time we addressed that issue?

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