David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What we need more than ever now is a roadmap to full universal cover and an agreed timeframe with the representative bodies because for too long, we were trying to do this by age and have lengthy contracts with them, which actually did not work. The delivery of the free GP cards for six- and seven-year-olds was promised years ago and did not happen because of contractual disagreements and so on. An agreed plan between Government and the representative bodies is needed. How will those 500,000 cards be delivered? When will that be done? Beyond that, when will they delivered to the rest of the population? The eligibility for those 500,000 people below the median income needs to expanded in respect of full cover under the medical card. We need an agreed timeframe and an agreed plan and I hope that that is something that, in time, will emerge from the Minister’s discussions with the IMO.

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