David Norris (Independent)

There is considerable confusion about this medical card business which has to be cleared up as it could become the equivalent of the tax on shoes which brought down a previous Government. The Government seduced old people into leaving the VHI and then left them hanging. We have to scotch the nonsense from Senators on the Government side that nothing has changed and pensioners will be able to rejoin health insurance schemes on the same terms they enjoyed previously. Insurance companies have to make profits on their clients and may offer such disadvantageous terms such that rejoining is of no use to the applicant. There is, therefore, a cost.

As to the argument that the €80 million will be paid by doctors, while general practitioners may not receive a cheque from the Government, they will, as sure as hell, extract it from their sick and elderly patients. The one constant in this business is that the pensioners will still pay.

While I have no problem with means testing, it has to be done properly and one has to hit those who can pay. It must also be a two way system in that one should means test people not only to exclude them from a system but also to ensure people are included in a scheme. This is not currently the case with the result that we are not protecting the weak.

The former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, used to say he was a socialist. I know the socialist credo — from each according to his means and to each according to his need.