Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I would like to thank those Members of the House who have spoken for their good wishes. I want to assure them I am no messiah. If Senator Henry was in the House I would pass on a letter to her I received last week from somebody wishing me well, and acknowledging that I was a consultant and expert in health care. The person was sure I had all the answers and clearly believed Senator Henry was the new Minister for Health and Children. The writer of the letter thought Senator Henry and I were one and the same person.

In An Agreed Programme for Government which covers the five-year term, 2002-07, the two coalition parties agreed to extend eligibility for medical cards. I assure the House this commitment will be met. We intend to give priority to persons on low incomes, families with children and particularly to children with a disability.

Extension of medical card eligibility, allied with reforms to achieve better value for money, is one of the priorities I have set since being appointed Minister for Health and Children. We recognise and acknowledge that income eligibility limits are low — too low in too many cases. The issue, therefore, is not one of principle but of how and in what manner to best achieve extension of the medical card entitlement in a way that devotes scarce public resources to those who need them most.