James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I see the point the Minister is making. It does not necessarily mean I wholeheartedly agree with it, but he is right to outline that. We do this best on the basis of age. I acknowledge the Department with its enormous resources has to prioritise what it feels is in the best interests of caring for the needs of our population around this expenditure and providing the best access to healthcare. However, from the perspective of somebody who has come to me and told me their story about suffering from this illness, it brings huge additional costs. I referred to one constituent in the Rathcormack area. They explained to me the flare-ups of their condition and having to travel unexpectedly to and from a healthcare facility in the midlands. It just comes across to me as being unfair and discriminatory that the State healthcare system does not step in and intervene in a case that merits that intervention. The Minister referred to the discretionary medical card. I would be delighted to speak to him individually about the case to which I have just made a brief reference. We do this best on the basis of age. I know we have just come through a budgetary process, but perhaps this is something we could reflect on for the future, broadening it on the criterion of illness as well as on that of age.

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