Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader comment on this issue and convey the concern of the House and my personal concern regarding the cutbacks in medical cards? This is an example of what we should be debating in the coming weeks rather than going into recess. I refer to the cutbacks in dental care under the medical card scheme. I have raised this issue before. When the cuts were announced in March, the Irish Dental Association warned of the negative impact this would have on medical card holders. Yesterday, at the Joint Committee on Health and Children the chief executive of the Irish Dental Association, Fintan Hourihan, echoed this previous warning. He said the cutbacks had caused chaos, confusion and hardship to vulnerable people and he cited several examples. It is a very serious matter. People with chronic illnesses are being denied dental care. I call on the Leader to hold a special debate and we should reconvene to do so.