Dáil debates
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Health Bill 2008: Order for Second Stage
Bill entitled an Act to amend the Health Act 1970, the Health Contributions Act 1979, the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and the Civil Registration Act 2004, to make provision in relation to eligibility for services under the Health Act 1970 and for liability for health contributions and to provide for matters connected therewith.
12:00 pm
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context
I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The Labour Party does not agree to the moving of the Order for Second Stage. We are profoundly opposed to the presentation of this legislation in the democratic forum of this House. Senior citizens should not bear the brunt of the mismanagement of the economy in recent years and the budgetary cuts that have been imposed as a result. The Minister and the Government know well that their backbenchers do not approve of this legislation.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The Deputy will have the opportunity to make her points on Second Stage.
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
We will soon find out whether they have the courage to stand up for what they believe in. The Labour Party intends to give them every opportunity to put their votes where their mouths are. This is profoundly unjust legislation which should be withdrawn forthwith.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context
There can only be a very short contribution to this procedural motion before the House.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
I support Deputy O'Sullivan. Fine Gael is utterly opposed to this Bill. It is detrimental to the elderly and to the economy because the measure it seeks to rescind has been shown to bring social and health gains to the persons concerned. The longitudinal study at St. James's Hospital has proven that beyond doubt. The paltry sum of money that will be saved — €16 million in general practitioner fees — could have been saved without damage to the elderly if negotiations had taken place. I ask that the House reject the Order for Second Stage and that the Government continue its negotiations with pharmacists and other professionals and leave the elderly out of it.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The Deputy will have an opportunity to make those points on Second Stage.
Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
We do not like hypocrites.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context
There will be many examples of hypocrisy in the voting pattern in this House today and tomorrow. I urge the Taoiseach to withdraw this Bill. We in Sinn Féin absolutely oppose the reneging on the commitment already given to over 70s to an entitlement for all to a medical card. This is a retrograde step, one that moves away from what we would wish to see in place, namely, universal entitlement to medical care for all citizens on the basis of need and need alone. We will oppose this retrograde Bill at every opportunity.
The Dail Divided:
For the motion: 77 (Dermot Ahern, Michael Ahern, Noel Ahern, Barry Andrews, Chris Andrews, Seán Ardagh, Bobby Aylward, Niall Blaney, Áine Brady, Cyprian Brady, Johnny Brady, John Browne, Thomas Byrne, Dara Calleary, Pat Carey, Niall Collins, Margaret Conlon, Seán Connick, Brian Cowen, John Cregan, Ciarán Cuffe, Martin Cullen, John Curran, Noel Dempsey, Jimmy Devins, Timmy Dooley, Frank Fahey, Michael Fitzpatrick, Seán Fleming, Beverley Flynn, Pat Gallagher, Paul Gogarty, Noel Grealish, Mary Hanafin, Mary Harney, Seán Haughey, Jackie Healy-Rae, Máire Hoctor, Billy Kelleher, Peter Kelly, Brendan Kenneally, Michael Kennedy, Séamus Kirk, Michael Kitt, Brian Lenihan Jnr, Conor Lenihan, Martin Mansergh, Micheál Martin, Tom McEllistrim, Mattie McGrath, Michael McGrath, John McGuinness, John Moloney, Michael Moynihan, Michael Mulcahy, M J Nolan, Éamon Ó Cuív, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Darragh O'Brien, Charlie O'Connor, Willie O'Dea, Noel O'Flynn, Rory O'Hanlon, Batt O'Keeffe, Ned O'Keeffe, Mary O'Rourke, Peter Power, Seán Power, Dick Roche, Eamon Ryan, Trevor Sargent, Eamon Scanlon, Brendan Smith, Noel Treacy, Mary Wallace, Mary White, Michael Woods)
Against the motion: 67 (Bernard Allen, James Bannon, Seán Barrett, Joe Behan, Pat Breen, Richard Bruton, Ulick Burke, Joan Burton, Catherine Byrne, Joe Carey, Paul Connaughton, Noel Coonan, Joe Costello, Simon Coveney, Seymour Crawford, Lucinda Creighton, Michael D'Arcy, John Deasy, Jimmy Deenihan, Andrew Doyle, Bernard Durkan, Damien English, Olwyn Enright, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Terence Flanagan, Eamon Gilmore, Brian Hayes, Tom Hayes, Michael D Higgins, Phil Hogan, Brendan Howlin, Paul Kehoe, Enda Kenny, Ciarán Lynch, Kathleen Lynch, Pádraic McCormack, Dinny McGinley, Finian McGrath, Joe McHugh, Liz McManus, Olivia Mitchell, Arthur Morgan, Denis Naughten, Dan Neville, Michael Noonan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Kieran O'Donnell, Fergus O'Dowd, Jim O'Keeffe, Brian O'Shea, Jan O'Sullivan, Willie Penrose, Ruairi Quinn, Pat Rabbitte, James Reilly, Michael Ring, Tom Sheahan, P J Sheehan, Seán Sherlock, Róisín Shortall, Emmet Stagg, David Stanton, Joanna Tuffy, Mary Upton, Leo Varadkar)
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Pat Carey and John Cregan; Níl, Deputies Paul Kehoe and Emmet Stagg.
Question declared carried.