Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

On the overall issue, there is no doubt that it is reasonable for people in long-term care to make a personal contribution. As Senator Quinn has rightly pointed out, no reasonable person would disagree with that.

Section 4 provides for new medical cards that will make GP services free for thousands of people. I heard members of the Opposition as late as half an hour or 20 minutes ago making snide remarks and sneering at the cards, which they dubbed "yellow-pack cards". I believe that it is not only wrong on their part but an insult to the thousands of people who will be entitled to one. I also heard Senator Browne saying that it was their initiative and that the Government had hijacked it. I briefly left the Chamber to get someone in my office to look for what was either a Fine Gael or Labour Party Private Members' motion before Christmas. I think that it might have been a Labour Party one. During the debate, we discussed medical cards.