Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Over recent months, thousands of people have received letters from the HSE initiating reviews of their medical card entitlements and, in many instances, removing their medical cards. This has caused huge anxiety, grief and concern throughout the country. Many of these people are elderly and in receipt of medical cards. Nowhere is this more cruelly felt than in the persistent underhand campaign to reduce the number of discretionary medical cards. In essence, a discretionary medical card is for people who are over the income limit but have a chronic long-term illness necessitating high medication costs and visits to doctors.

I will give the Taoiseach an example. Yesterday, a 68 year old gentleman called to see me. He had received such a letter taking the card off him. The card's expiry date was 2021. This person has a very complex medical history with multiple issues necessitating high medication and so on. He has been out of work since 1985 because of his medical condition but the card was taken off him, which shows the campaign that is under way.

The grief and concern felt by people was added to by the Minister for Health last week when he confirmed that cancer patients are no longer entitled to a discretionary medical card unless they are terminally ill. I read a response to the Minister in a blog from a cancer survivor yesterday.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Has the Deputy a question?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The level of outrage and anger articulated in that blog is something he should read because the phrase "not such a bad diagnosis at all" was adding insult to injury and is something that people with or who have come through cancer cannot comprehend. The person talks about the financial hellhole that the condition entailed involving numerous medications and visits to doctors. Many survivors and many people with cancer are very angry. They see this medical card as the saving grace and lifeline during such a condition. Could the Taoiseach get the Minister to apologise and withdraw those remarks? More importantly, will he reverse the policy of not facilitating people with cancer with discretionary medical cards and stop the policy of reducing the number of discretionary medical cards held by people with long-term chronic illnesses? In recent years the number has been reduced by 21,000. A campaign is under way and I call on the Taoiseach to stop it and reverse it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The medical card has always been an important element of this country's society. When they were operated by the various health boards through clinics throughout the country there was a more personal connection with those who applied for them and it was always possible to explain directly what an individual's circumstances might be. At present more medical cards are issued than ever before.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is more need.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Martin raised an issue about discretionary medical cards which, according to newspaper reports, have been reduced by 20,000 in recent years. He called on the Minister to apologise in respect of a particular case. I do not have the details of this case and I invite the Deputy to send them to me and I will have the Minister examine it.

When a person gets the results of a series of tests which show a major complication or ailment it is always a huge shock. The discretionary medical card was available for particular purposes. I do not have the details of the case Deputy Martin mentioned-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is not a case; it is a policy change regarding cancer.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----but if the person has been unemployed since 1985 and has multiple issues, with other complications as well as cancer, and a card issued to the person involved until 2021 has now been withdrawn, there is a reason for somebody making this decision and we need to find this out. I have no doubt about the veracity of the case mentioned by the Deputy, and if the person has been out of work since 1985 because of medical complications, and has cancer and multiple issues which make life very challenging, I do not see why a decision was made to suddenly alter a previous decision made in good faith to issue the person with a medical card until 2021 when it would be reviewed. Medical cards have always been reviewed on an annual or biannual basis. Sometimes people moved away or passed on, and sometimes an ailment cleared up or the complication was such a medical card might never be required again but discretionary cards are a particular type of card and are issued to people with particular problems.

The Minister, Deputy Reilly, is as concerned as anybody else that those who deserve cards should have them. I do not suggest the person mentioned by Deputy Martin should not have a card but we will investigate this case and I would like to see the results of the inquiry myself.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Reilly, stated cancer can range from a desperate diagnosis to not such a bad diagnosis. He confirmed it is now Government policy not to issue medical cards to cancer patients unless they are terminally ill. This is the point I made. It is this statement which has caused such outrage and anger.

I read extracts from the blog I referred to yesterday. The person who wrote it stated her not such a bad diagnosis brought her to her knees in ways one could only know if one had been handed one. She stated the medical card was the one saving grace in her life and still is. She details the doctors, pills and antibiotics and describes how it was such a financial hell. She was not terminally ill and is 14 months clear of cancer.

The Minister and HSE have stated one will only receive a discretionary medical card if one is terminally ill with cancer and any other cancer diagnosis no longer qualifies. The discretionary medical card was available for people with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses and for those who did not have cancer but who had long-term chronic illnesses. The reason was the necessity for frequent visits to doctors and dependence on a significant amount of medication.

Will the Taoiseach reverse this policy on cancer and discretionary medical cards and stop the ongoing underhand campaign to reduce the number of discretionary medical cards being issued, which was signalled in the budget when the eligibility thresholds were raised and it was stated 20,000 cards would be taken out of the system this year? It was under the radar and buried in the detailed documentation of the budget. People are now beginning to see it with letters coming in the door taking medical cards from them. This is the reality of life on the ground in terms of discretionary medical cards and I ask the Taoiseach to reverse this policy.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is not a household in the country which has not been affected by cancer, including mine, and everybody understands the gravity and shock which comes with the dreaded word being diagnosed, but it is true to say medical science has advanced to a great degree over the past 30 years and many of the initial diagnoses of cancer are treatable and are dealt with and people move on to live very normal lives for a very long time. In other words, their cancers get cured, although clearly not in all cases.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is costly.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It has a financial dimension.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Professor Kerin and the researchers involved in breast cancer research in Galway do enormous work. I spoke to somebody whose wife went through this quite recently who told me he would never again question the necessity of having centres of excellence, because his wife received such wonderful treatment and is now deemed to be clear.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I accept the treatment is much better.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is wonderful and is an advance of medical science.

A total of 43% of the population now have medical cards and last year the number of people covered was 1.854 million. This year we want the figure to reach 1.9 million people.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am speaking about discretionary medical cards.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The number of medical cards is increasing-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is because of unemployment.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----and so is the cost.

Nobody would disagree with the gravity of the situation which arises when cancer, leukaemia or motor neurone disease is diagnosed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Taoiseach re-examine it?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Most people in the House have friends and family involved. The principal which underscores medical cards, as the Deputy knows because he was in the Department previously-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It has changed.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----under the Health Act 1970 is to provide comprehensive free medical care to anybody who cannot without hardship afford it. The decision taken allows for a case-by-case analysis of whatever the consequence of diagnosis might be. I will see to it the Minister examines the case mentioned by the Deputy-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not speaking about a case.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We all know such cases.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am speaking about the policy on cancer patients and medical cards.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are over time.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The policy is to cover 1.9 million people in the country with medical cards this year.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I asked about the policy regarding cancer patients and discretionary medical cards.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This number is rising-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister made a statement last week-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Please stop interrupting.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All I want is an answer to the question I asked.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is not Question Time.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is not true, as I understand it, to state the Minister or the HSE stated one will not receive a medical card unless one has terminal cancer. The Minister disagrees with this and is clear he did not state this.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What did he say?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Health Act 1970 sets out the general principle of which Deputy Martin is well aware-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Taoiseach confirm the policy is not what the Minister stated last week?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----which is that a person is entitled to comprehensive free medical care in the medical card system in situations where, by virtue of hardship or financial difficulties, he or she cannot meet the costs.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I ask Deputies to respect the Chair. We are four minutes over time on this question.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is not true that because somebody gets cancer suddenly the Minister states one will get a medical card only if it is terminal. I will have the case followed up.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I ask Members please to stick to the time limits or arrange through the Whips to extend them. Do not ask me to run the Chamber on the basis of limits when people do not adhere to them.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Last night was the fourth night of recent violence in the North. Police officers have been attacked by rioters still wearing their orange regalia. Many police officers have been injured. There were attacks last night, including bomb and petrol bomb attacks on St. Matthew's Church and on homes in the Short Strand. Violence from any quarter must be condemned and deplored but what we are witnessing on the streets at this time is naked sectarian aggression.

I do not believe the scenes we are witnessing reflect the majority within the Orange Order and the loyal orders and more especially the majority of citizens in the North. I hope the Taoiseach will join with me in saying that solutions can only be found through dialogue involving the loyal orders and residents of the host communities. The experience of Derry and other areas is evidence of that.

I wish to argue specifically again very strongly that we must all recognise that Orangeism is a part of who we are as a nation and a people. The loyal orders have the right to parade and to promote their sense of identity but that must be on the basis of equality and tolerance. We cannot tolerate sectarianism, bigotry or incitement to hatred. Will the Taoiseach join with me in calling for an end to the street protests, appeal for calm and urge the order to enter into real dialogue on the contentious parades? The Taoiseach will recall that I have constantly argued for the Government to be in continuous contact with the British Government as part of its responsibility as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. The Agreement specifically affirms the right of citizens to live free from sectarian harassment. Has the Government spoken to the British Government on the recent violence?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The answer is “Yes”. The Tánaiste was in direct contact with the Secretary of State, Ms Villiers, on the matter and the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland, Mr. Ford. Everybody agrees with the sentiment Deputy Adams expressed that there should be harmony and community peace in Northern Ireland.

On the morning of the recent North-South Ministerial Council in Dublin Castle the Orange Order issued a statement saying it wished to engage with communities in the Ardoyne about the parade and the issues that might arise. Clearly, the Government supports the role and the remit of the Parades Commission and the PSNI, which has been under serious pressure in carrying out its duties in terms of maintaining peace and community cohesion.

The Orange Order addressed the Seanad last year and made its comments. I met it myself. Clearly, Deputy Adams will not find anyone in disagreement with the sentiment he expressed in the House. All we can do is reinforce the message by continued direct contact with the representatives of the British Government and of the political parties. I am also aware of the comments made by Vice President Biden. Everyone is now aware of the appointment of Richard Haass, the experienced special envoy, to chair the work dealing with parades, protests, flags, symbols and emblems dealing with the past. Those are serious issues. I saw some of the television pictures of naked sectarianism at work and it is not a pretty sight.

This House should unite in its call to all the communities to show restraint. This is not good for Northern Ireland, its reputation and the perception of the people of Northern Ireland. Following on the successful G8 summit where the reputation of Northern Ireland and its people was greatly enhanced this does down the economy, in particular of Belfast, and it also does down the reputation of community efforts to have cross-community peace and harmony. In so far as sending out that message is concerned, we will reinforce it very strongly and will continue our contacts directly with the British Government and the representatives of the people in all of the parties.

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Hear, hear.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his answer. I know that there are lots of worries and responsibilities upon the Government at this time but these issues must be continuously worked at. It is all relative. The violence was quite localised; it was only in Belfast. It is disastrous for people who live in those small terraced houses in what are called interface areas to live under that constant threat and worry. It is something I would not wish upon anyone. A total of 550 orange parades took place over 12 July. That is a huge amount of parades. The full total of parades by the loyal orders was 4,993. That is outside the experience of most people from this part of the island of Ireland.

I welcome the fact that Drew Nelson, the grand secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge addressed the Seanad. I also welcome the fact that at the last moment the Orange Order engaged in dialogue of a sort. The Government must find ways of continuously engaging. I refer to normal ministerial visits. I do not mean high profile visits, but small visits to the Short Strand and loyalist areas such as the Newtownards Road. Ministers will be given a very good welcome. That should be possible under the aegis of the Good Friday Agreement. We must find ways to encourage dialogue because that will allow us to find a resolution to the outstanding matters. Could Ministers be asked to visit the North more often, in particular the poorest, most disadvantaged working class areas that suffer the brunt of the sectarian violence?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The answer is “Yes”. I spoke to Mr. Nelson last year when he visited Dublin. That was one of the issues the parties discussed for inclusion in the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, of substantial funding under the peace dividend, the inclusion of INTERREG funding, and a recognition that of the many parades to which Deputy Adams referred the vast majority passed off without any difficulty, rancour or confrontation.

Deputy Adams knows better than most that in the interface communities it is community leaders on both sides who are able to bring about a sense of restraint and calm. What happened before and after Christmas did not help the situation. The intervening period of calm was for a small minority a period of build-up to what is happening now. I hope community leaders and the political process will keep very active and vigilant and that we can get through this period with no further serious violence as we have seen in the past.

The answer to Deputy Adams’s question on ministerial visits is “Yes”. Arising from the North-South ministerial meetings, a great deal of work is going on. The fact that the Presidency went from 1 January to the end of June did require a great deal of attention from all Ministers. Deputy Adams can take it that I am determined that Ministers and Ministers of State will involve themselves on a more active basis in visiting areas in Northern Ireland and different communities there in respect of building on the work of the North-South Ministerial Council and the engagement that is ongoing on a constant basis. That is only to be expected and would be in the interests of building further on the harmony between different communities. That will happen from the autumn.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As we move towards the summer recess it is appropriate to raise one final time with the Taoiseach some of the key concerns I have put to him on the floor of the House but which have failed to receive any kind of meaningful response. Over the course of this Dáil session I have tried to engage with the Taoiseach on a number of extremely important issues such as the plight of the Omagh bomb victims, the ongoing denial of justice to the family of the late Fr. Niall Molloy, the refusal to meet or engage with the families of the Stardust tragedy and the pursuit of policies by this Government which have done nothing to reverse the horror of mass youth unemployment and emigration. Last, but not least, I wish to raise the Taoiseach’s heavy-handed approach to ramming through the so-called Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. Instead of promised change-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is not statements. This is Leaders' Questions.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know it is not. I am coming to the question.

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is rubbish.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thought you said I had two minutes, a Cheann Comhairle.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is Leaders' Questions. The Deputy is supposed to put questions.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am putting a question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are not making statements.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

If you will allow me, a Cheann Comhairle, I am making the point that I failed to get answers to certain questions.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy McGrath cannot go back over the entire year.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

You are taking up my time now, a Cheann Comhairle.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is a fundamental point to make.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will I get some time back for the interruption? Instead of promised change and new politics, a reduction in quangos and a five-point plan, all we received were broken promises.

It is the same old politics, the same quangos with a few new ones and a Government that has the nerve to award itself an A grade for a job well done. We have a raft of extra taxes, less money in people's pockets and threats by Revenue to small businesses while giant multinationals walk away scot free. Women on maternity leave have been taxed more, carers have been targeted and people in bankruptcy or negative equity are told to live on €20 per week. All of these have one aspect in common. They point to an arrogant and out-of-touch Government in which the people can no longer have any faith.

Given the shameful legacy of broken promises at the Government's half-way point, why should anyone believe a word that comes out of the Taoiseach's mouth? How can citizens have any trust that their lives, job prospects and education or health needs will be in a stronger position at the end of the Government's term than they were before it? Does the Taoiseach not accept that he has failed to make any meaningful impact on the ordinary daily lives of most people? Can he at least be honest about that?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Taoiseach be honest about that?

Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Did Noel Davern write that?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is a rhetorical question actually-----

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Sit down, so.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----written by the local chairman of Deputy Mattie McGrath's independent organisation down there.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Noel Davern. Did he write that?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I might point out that, for instance, there has been no increase in income tax like the Deputy mentioned. There have been 16,000 new start-ups of individual businesses in the past 12 months. We have halted the rot of losing 7,500 jobs per month for three years to a point where 2,000 jobs are now being created every month. Today, the Deputy will have heard the news about Symantec announcing 400 new jobs, 200 this year and 200 more over the next two years. Last week, we had the privilege of breaking ground with Kerry Group on a €100 million investment in Naas. We have had the major investment by Glanbia on the Kilkenny-Waterford border, with up to 1,500 jobs across the Deputy's constituency and right up as far as County Louth. We have had the progress made by the finance Ministers in respect of our European colleagues and the progress made in regard to the Presidency about the approach towards banking union, a single supervisory mechanism and so on. We have had inclusions in the last budget, particularly in regard to small and medium enterprises, of opportunities for new access to credit. I note statements from banks saying they are now lending more than previously. They are required to lend because of targets set by the Central Bank and so on.

I do not accept the Deputy's long litany of issues that he raised. I met the people from the Stardust tragedy on many occasions in the past and the question of the late Fr. Molloy was raised in the House on a number of occasions, but these are issues the Deputy has raised before. He can raise them by way of Topical Issue or parliamentary question. His rant is rhetorical.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

He got no answers.

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

He did not ask any question.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach should look in the mirror when he talks about my ranting. We should get a big mirror and place it there for him. He rants, but no one believes him. I do not know whether the Minister, Deputy Noonan, wants to pinch him to bring him back to reality, but I do not believe him. Like all of the Taoiseach's other replies, that was an exercise in denial and an evasion over the real state of the country. If he cared to ask, anyone would tell him that.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

How did the Deputy know what the Taoiseach was going to say when the Deputy wrote that?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wonder whether the Taoiseach remembers the remarkable disability campaigner, Joanna Jordan, who has accused him of back-tracking on his personal promise-----

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

How did the Deputy know the reply when he wrote that?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Hold on one second. Will the Deputy ask a supplementary question?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is a fact. The truth is bitter.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is not an Adjournment debate.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I did not say it was.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is Leaders' Questions.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will come to my question. I have two minutes, as the Ceann Comhairle pointed out-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy does not have two minutes.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----and one minute.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has two minutes to ask a question.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

If the Ceann Comhairle had been fair to me other times and given me cover, I would have appreciated it.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We do not have Adjournment debates on Leaders' Questions, for goodness sake.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is Leaders' Questions, but the Taoiseach wanted to come back with a rant and a spin. No one believes it.

Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Where is the question if it is Leaders' Questions?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach does not believe it himself. He referred to my speech being written by the chairman of my constituency organisation. I do not have one. Thankfully, I do not have a list of overpaid advisers-----

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Hear, hear.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----keeping me aloft and away from the people.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What about the €50,000 in a leader's allowance?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will Deputy Mattie McGrath please put his question?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I must answer for myself to the people of Tipperary.

Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is the Deputy's family doing this work for him now?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will Deputies stay quiet?

Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No one else can get a job.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Butler, will you please settle down? It is hard enough without you adding to it.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

He should settle down.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will Deputy Mattie McGrath ask his question?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am trying to, but-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is a supplementary question.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes. I just said that.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Well, put it to the Taoiseach.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The cuts to child benefit and the back to school clothing allowance amounted to savings of €153 million, yet only €18.5 million of that was redirected into services and programmes for children. For what it is worth, will the Taoiseach commit to increasing this paltry amount so that the alarmingly high levels of child poverty in this country will be tackled once more?

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Hear, hear.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Taoiseach at least try to keep this promise so that our children will not continue to number among the worst in Europe in terms of high rates of consistent poverty? This is from a child poverty group. These are not my words. They were not written by any of the scriptwriters or spin doctors the Taoiseach has. He has many of them.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Some €50,000 per year in a leader's allowance for that.

A Deputy:

Copious notes.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not sure what the Deputy does with his Independent allowance unless he has someone writing for him. He should be able to go back to that person and say that he read it out anyway.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach gets plenty of ranting letters. His spin doctors have things written out for him before he even enters the Chamber.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In fact, the big news from Tipperary, particularly in Newcastle and the surrounding region, was why Deputy Mattie McGrath made representations to the Taoiseach to appoint a Minister of State in south Tipperary. He got his answer. He delivered the Minister of State.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are all delighted. I will tell the Taoiseach one thing-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I did not think that I had that much influence over the Taoiseach.