Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

The Minister made the point I intended to make. On Second Stage, I pointed out that, based on the figures the Minister gave us this morning relating to families, the cost works out at roughly €2.50 on average per month, per family. Even if it was €2.50 per week per family, it is still a very small charge. If Senator Fitzgerald really believes people will do without medicine because they cannot afford €2.50 per month, those people obviously fall into a net where other moneys and supports are put in place for them. I do not accept the Senator's point that people's health will fail as a result of a 50 cent per item charge.

We are losing sight of the ethos and value in this legislation, particularly with regard to the generic content and what the Minister said this morning about where she wants this to lead and what she intends to do in September. There are people who will not object to paying 50 cent per item. Many old people might be glad to pay it. They will see it as their way of contributing towards something they are glad to have. Everybody knows the income level for the medical card. The Minister said this morning there are 1.66 million people with a full medical card; I forget how many have doctor-only cards. People will understand what the Minister is trying to do and there will not be objection to the 50 cent charge.

Other points were made this morning and I hope the Minister takes them on board. I am glad to hear Senator Prendergast's contribution. Let us see what we can do with this to move the issue forward in the best interests of patients. Continuing prescriptions should be reviewed. Where there are continuing monthly prescriptions, including for medication such as painkillers, one will have cases such as the one I mentioned where 600 or 700 Panadol tablets were found in the house when the old person died.