Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

"Stop it" is right because we are at the core of what the Bill is about. It is about the imposition of a fee on people. The Bill, its explanatory memorandum and the Minister's speech all state this.

The charge is 50 cent i dtús báire. The Members opposite, as former members of local authorities, will know well that what starts small can increase incrementally. I remind them that the charge will be imposed on the elderly and the vulnerable. Thanks to the policies pursued in the main by Fianna Fáil, ably assisted by the Green Party and the former Progressive Democrats, there is a new poor in society, the middle class. It is expected to pay for everything. It is, in many cases, in trouble financially because of no fault of its own other than that it bought property at the peak and has lost jobs because of the financial crisis and the lack of employment opportunities in this country.

We in Fine Gael have put forward a model called FairCare the basic principle of which is that the money follows the patient, but we have also advocated a role for pharmacists in the treatment of minor illnesses. The bottom line here is it is about the safe, timely and efficient delivery of services. In this case, I am concerned we are accentuating a divide in society.

I agree with the Minister to a point that there is a need for reform and change. I have no difficulty with that and I admire the Minister's bravery in many ways in what she is doing and trying to do. However, this is an unfair imposition.

I listen to people talking about what is best for society and what is best for people. I canvas four days a week and I meet people more than most Members of this House. I say this not in an adversarial manner at all, even though I could. I have seen women and men, predominantly elderly, making the choice whether to skip taking tables. They have shown me half tablets and quarter tablets. I have seen them going to their general practitioners who, to their credit, have given them free samples-----