Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

This is a new amendment. I appreciate this legislation is being rushed through the House today and, as I stated, it is not the ideal way to produce legislation. We would have preferred more time and I would like to think that the Government would have had the time to consider this amendment because it deals with a specific issue.

This amendment proposes that the Bill allow a divorced or separated person the option of continuing to be assessed as either a couple or an individual for the purpose of obtaining a medical card. It conforms to our constitutional idea of a family unit and similar provisions are in place with regard to Irish tax law. We are saying that separations or divorces can be difficult or traumatic enough without the State interfering further into someone's private financial position or living arrangements.

The ultimate concept is that these couples should continue to avail of this provision, either as a couple or individually for the purposes of obtaining a medical card. It is in line with the constitutional understanding of a family and provides some choice to ease hardship for separated or divorced couples. I am interested in the Minister of State's response to the amendment.