Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I will be brief. Since the health portfolio was taken over by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, last month 6,297 people lost their medical cards; in December 2004 more than 2,100 people lost their medical cards and since the last election 64,000 people have been denied access to medical cards. If this trend continues this Minister for Health and Children will go down as the Minister who dismantled the medical card and GMS system. I ask the Minister to indicate what she is doing with regard to the medical card and GMS service. She has promised approximately 200,000 yellow pack medical cards but we have been told some will not be in place until April or May. I ask that something be done immediately for the many who are suffering as a result of their withdrawal.

Women in the west do not have access to BreastCheck and, as a result, 40 per annum die because of their late presentation.