Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and appreciate her patience in bearing with the House for so long. The budget's announcement was handled badly — I make no bones about that — but I believe that millionaires should not qualify for medical cards. The problem lay in how we went about making the change, but we have tried to rectify the situation. Some 95% of the people in question will qualify for a medical card. This is a workable solution.

I am upset by how many Senators have created anxiety among people today. Those earning more than €800 per week will not attend their doctors if they have the flu or need medical tests. It is not correct to make claims at a time when we should be protecting and helping those who may not qualify as much as we can. No one earning more than €700 will experience difficulties. Many of those to whom I spoke told me that it was high time that we correct the claim, which should never have been raised in the first instance. However, it is water under the bridge and we will not rehash that territory.

I come from a medical background and possess considerable connections with that profession through my immediate and extended family, but I do not hold a torch for them. When I leave the Chamber, I will receive telephone calls. Doctors were wrong to seize the opportunity to put the Government over a barrel and negotiate a fee of €690 in respect of people over 70 years of age presenting to them for flu injections. Such people might not visit their doctors for the remainder of the year. Doctors with patients in nursing homes were paid over €900 in respect of each of them. That was not correct.

I was shocked when I examined the detail of how the medical card scheme for those over 70 operated. The position had to be corrected. I have no doubt that we went the wrong way about establishing and operating the scheme. However, we have taken remedial action and the Irish Medical Organisation is on board and involved in negotiations on how a proper and fair capitation grant might be arrived at in respect of each patient. That is a good development.

There may be some people whose incomes will be just over the threshold and there will be a possibility to negotiate in respect of such individuals, particularly if there is a serious illness involved.

We have dealt with many of the teething problems relating to this scheme over a long period. The only matter about which I am concerned is reinsurance. Will the Minister of State indicate how this will work in respect of those who have not been paying insurance for a couple of years? Mixed views have been expressed with regard to this matter and the jury is out in respect of it.

I welcome the Bill, which has been the subject of a great deal of work. The public supports the Minister of State. I accept that the Government was insensitive but members of the public have come around. Yesterday we discussed cutbacks in all areas of society and the rationalisation of State agencies. In this debate we are discussing the making of sacrifices in the area of health. Next week we may be obliged to make sacrifices in respect of education. Such sacrifices must be made and we require support in respect of them from Members on all sides to get the country back up and running. I feel strongly about this matter. There are many good Senators across the floor who say things merely for the sake of offering opposition. I do not think they believe what they are saying half of the time.

We must put the country first. I am glad that we have taken the route of making cuts. The millionaires and those who earn large amounts of money, such as doctors, lawyers and other professionals welcome the fact that we have introduced this measure. They never wanted medical cards in the first instance.

We have now got it right. I put my hands up, however, and state that the Government was insensitive. I apologise to the public for the way in which it went about dealing with this matter. However, I am glad we have taken action. I agree with the principle behind the Bill.