Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Finucane's call for an urgent review of the income guidelines for medical cards. At the recent conference in Killarney, doctors were unanimous in their concern that many patients on low incomes who deserved medical cards did not have them. There are not enough medical cards and the Government does not seem to care. The failure to increase these income guidelines is akin to another stealth tax.

There are problems throughout Ireland with enforcement orders for planning permission. A lackadaisical approach is adopted by staff in some local authorities, although I appreciate there are severe staffing problems that must also be rectified. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government should come before this House for a debate on the issue. People are losing confidence in the planning process.