Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Fáiltím roimh an mBille seo. Is Bille dearfach é an Bille Sláinte (Forálacha Ilghnéitheacha), 2024. Tá an Bille ag díriú isteach ar dhá rud ach go háirithe: fáil réidh leis an tástáil maoine i leith ioncam ó sheomra atá curtha ar cíos agus tuilleadh cumhachtaí a thabhairt do phoitigéirí na tíre. Is maith an rud é sin. Gabhaim buíochas arís leis an leabharlann as ucht an iris eolais a chuir sé ar fáil. Tá sé an-suimiúil agus cuireann sé gach rud i gcomhthéacs. Gabhaim buíochas leis an leabharlann as sin. I will not repeat what I just said in Irish. I welcome the Bill. It is short and to the point. There will be no means testing for the medical card, which is very welcome, for those who want to rent out a room. I will come back to some of this. Although we are not speaking about a housing crisis, I will speak about it because it is mentioned in the digest to give context as to why it is so important to make renting a room as accessible as possible for people to avail of the scheme and not be penalised. It is very welcome.

It is also welcome that we are extending the powers of pharmacists based on recommendations of the task force. I should say I am not sure about the regulation of this or who will oversee it. Any of us run to the chemist and beg them to renew a prescription and put pressure on them to do so. It is something we want but we want it under supervision. We want to ensure, particularly with regard to mental health, that prescriptions are not renewed without proper supervision or monitoring. I know a review is promised. I did not see it in the legislation and perhaps I missed it. I am not sure whether it is listed in the legislation or whether it is something that will happen automatically.

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