Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

On Second Stage I mentioned the proposals IMO representatives had made regarding cost savings and the range of activities they considered could be engaged in to address prescribing and usage behaviour. They were of the view that these proposals offered a better alternative to opting for a prescription charge. Did the Minister make progress with them on the proposals made? Does she believe other categories of patients should be exempt such as asylum seekers, thalidomide and polio victims and those in receipt of palliative care, not only methadone users and children in care? Why did not she not provide exemptions for these groups in the legislation?