Colm Burke (Fine Gael)

In dealing with this debate we need to examine one or two issues with regard to the economy. This morning I referred to the cost of health care and that we spent €13.4 billion on it last year and brought in €13.317 billion in income tax. We need to communicate what services cost because there is a total disconnect between what people feel they pay for and what they get. In real terms it costs €257 million per week to run our health service. This is a lot of money to run any service and it is extremely expensive to run the health service. The household charge will bring in €126 million so it will not pay for health care for one week. These are the figures.

We must look at what we have in health care. I could criticise Fianna Fáil for tabling this motion but it is a valuable opportunity to consider what is constructive in the country. Many aspects of our best health care service are the best in Europe and we are very critical of it. Our prenatal mortality rate is the lowest in Europe at 4.5 per 1,000 whereas France's rate is approximately 12 per 1,000. We provide many good health services but we do not give credit for this.

Despite the cutbacks, and we must create economies of scale and efficiencies, we have come from 1.2 million people having medical cards in 2002 to more than 1.7 million having medical cards on 1 March 2012 and this figure is rising. This sends a message in itself and it is why we need to be constructive about how we run the country. To get a medical card one needs to be below a certain income level. It is frightening to think 1.7 million people fall within the criteria for a medical card. It sends a clear message on the task we face in dealing with this economic crisis. The income levels of people have decreased and they qualify for a medical card. We need to understand that by the end of the year more than 2 million people may have a GP-only card or a medical card and this is what we must deal with. This is why we need to be constructive about forward planning for the next five years. The Government is doing a very good job of maintaining services while creating efficiencies.