Shane Ross (Independent)

This is not just an issue of people making a lot of money being able to afford to take some of it back, which is how it is portrayed by some of the Government spinners. There are two very important elements involved. One is the issue of small businesses, some of which are in serious difficulties as a result of the cuts made. They borrowed a lot of money on the basis of the fact that they would go ahead on the margins given to them by the Department of Health and Children for the medicines. The other is a serious health issue. I do not want to be absent from here with the House in recess when old people are not able to get their medicines because they do not have access to their chemists or this scheme.

Now is the time we should address this. There is no point in the Minister or the Government taking macho attitudes heading into the summer and going on holidays when there will be a mini-disaster facing them by August. Will the Minister come to the House? This is not a taboo subject as has been demanded by Fianna Fáil. It is a subject to be aired on both sides of the House so we can nip it in the bud prior to it becoming a national problem, which it will, and a serious difficulty for old people and small businesses.