David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This amendment takes into consideration those who are on jobseeker's allowance, jobseeker's benefit, supplementary welfare allowance, family income support, farm assist, the old age non-contributory pension, disability allowance, disablement benefit or the blind pension. They should be exempt from the charge. I appreciate the Minister of State indicating that he will come back to us with more detail and perhaps we might discuss that in the House. As public representatives we hold clinics and know the pressure people are under and while we in the Opposition are aware of the difficult choices Governments must make, we must deal with those families who come to our clinics in real distress because of their financial circumstances and any charges that make it more difficult for them. It is time for us to say that these people simply cannot afford these charges and the Government must look at that. That is what we have tried to do in this amendment. We are being prescriptive in what we want to see. Clearly the Government has its own position. I am grateful, however, for the Minister of State's indication that he will speak to us in more detail about the Government's intentions.