Results 18,441-18,460 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: A total of 31,000 discretionary medical cards have been taken from very sick children and from people with life-limiting, life-threatening and terminal conditions over the past three years. I have raised this issue on various occasions in the past 18 months at Leaders’ Questions, and the Taoiseach has consistently denied any change in policy or any move to limit and get rid of...

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: The chief executive officer of Down Syndrome Ireland says that half of children with Down's syndrome have either been affected by this cull of discretionary medical cards or have lost them. The specialist nurses of the Jack and Jill Foundation wrote to the Minister for Health. They care for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions who need 24 hour care. They say the...

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: They had it already.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: We are not talking about any old case. People who had discretionary medical cards had them under the legislation. I think most people watching and most people in society would expect a 12 year old child who has profound mental disability, is legally blind, has hearing loss in the left ear, is asthmatic, is non-verbal and is wheelchair bound to have a medical card. That is my point. I am...

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: Equally, in terms of a 65 year old woman who has multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, congenital abnormality of the eyes and other conditions, I think most people would say that person should have a medical card. In terms of an elderly women with multiple myeloma, she had a medical card since 2006-----

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: ----she has a terminal condition but has had her card removed. The Taoiseach can see that this is a policy. Enormous stress is being caused. Last night I called to a door and I am not going to name the case because it is confidential.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: This is the case of a person who has motor neurone disease, who is on a ventilator and incredible care is being shown to the person by a loved one. The person's card has only been renewed for six months. This is out of control. It is a disgrace. The Taoiseach should hang his head in shame-----

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: -----over a policy that is focused on taking cards from people who need them.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: The legislation is there to allow it. The Taoiseach has been warned enough by many people on his own side, by Deputies on the backbenches and Deputies from every other party here. This calls for a genuine intervention. The letter from the Jack & Jill Children's Foundation specialist nurses was sent to the Taoiseach and it made a very good point. It said that the Government should...

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach is wrong there.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: These are incredibly severe cases.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: That is what is happening.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: Of course a person who has motor neurone disease who is at the end stage should get a card. It is obvious. It is elementary.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Government has been trying to cut them - some 30,000 of them.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach is refusing to focus.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: Okay.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: A Fine Gael-led local authority allowed Priority Hall, for God's sake.

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: What about the €30 million for Pairc Uí Chaoimh?

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: It allocated €30 million for Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

Order of Business (14 May 2014)

Micheál Martin: Under the programme for Government the Taoiseach has committed to significant reform of the committee system, in particular that the head of any Department or State body would make himself or herself available to committees. I am concerned that the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality wrote to the clerk of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality to say...