Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I appreciate that. One important feature of this legislation, which has not been remarked upon or discussed, is that it will ensure that the payments to GPs in this respect will be on a much fairer basis. Plenty of GPs were prepared to open up services in my constituency in Dún Laoghaire because it is perceived as an area where many wealthier people live and, as we all know, they were called "gold card" recipients, in respect of whom four times the level of the standard fee was paid. Naturally, it was great hunting ground for GPs, but the awful consequence of it was that people in less affluent areas were not properly served by GPs. This was a disgraceful consequence. The legislation will ensure that fairness is restored to service provision. This aspect has been overlooked because the fact that an entitlement is being withdrawn from people is being played out in a big way, which is fair enough as the party opposite want to play politics with it, but the equilibrium that will be restored to the provision of GP services throughout the country is a positive consequence of this Bill. It is to be welcomed. I am glad to have the opportunity to put that on the record. We cannot have a system that introduces a ferocious imbalance in the service provision such that wealthy areas are very well served while poorer communities are not. That is an important consequence of this legislation.

The Government has to deal with the current economic situation while the Opposition do not. The one point I have not heard Fine Gael say is that it would reverse a decision such as this one. Of course, it would not because it knows——