Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a general thrust to the debate and speakers are allowed to refer generally to the subject, which is what I am doing.

The 3% universal social charge increase would have taken in hundreds of millions of euro and I am sure the Minister of State would agree that if it was his call, or that of his party, such measures could take in a significant amount of money and look after the relative security and well being of the most vulnerable, the over-70s who, regardless of income, are distressed at the moment. They are being told that although they have a medical card that does not expire until 2016, after the passage of this legislation, if they are a couple of euro above the income threshold they will get a GP only card despite the fact that they must pay for medication every month. For ¤12 million it is unnecessary.

The Minister of State mentioned manifestoes. The Labour Party manifesto and the programme for Government both promise universal health care. We still have not seen a White Paper on that and this Bill will do nothing for universal health care. When in opposition, the Minister for Health said the 50 cent increase on prescription charges would stop people from going to the GP for a prescription but he has since trebled the charge to ¤1.50 and the threshold for medical cards is being reduced. Although only a small percentage will lose out entirely, following the Minister's own logic, we are focusing on people who are not in a position to deal with this sort of hit and who do not deserve it. These are the people who raised us, nursed us, fed us and grew crops for us.

There was a cut in child benefit and the mobility grant is being abolished. There were legal issues with that but to cut the grant unilaterally without having a replacement for a period created unnecessary uncertainty. Now there is this but there is no sign of the free GP care or universal health care. There seems to be calamity after disaster after catastrophe for the Minister for Health generally with the haphazard management of the health service.

As Senator Henry knows, in Sligo a consultant dermatologist had moved from England to take up the position in the hospital. Due to creative accountancy within the HSE or the Department, ¤10 million has been taken from the hospital so there is not enough money to keep the lights on never mind to appoint a dermatologist. Consultants in neurology, epilepsy and other areas were promised under the clinical programmes but there is no money to appoint them.

The Minister was in Sligo last week to open a road but there was no announcement on the funding for these positions. In the final analysis, the people will pay the price. The existing consultant broke ranks last week to say he cannot take GP referrals because prioritising would be a lottery and waiting lists in Sligo generally were three years, while in Letterkenny, for which he is also responsible, the waiting list is five years. That is far from the window dressing we see with special delivery units.

One wonders what this will achieve for the sake of ¤12 million. I would much prefer to see an increase in something like the universal social charge where we would be talking about hundreds of millions of euro. Those who were on higher incomes expected the hit in the last budget and they would not mind making an additional contribution to secure the health of the most vulnerable and the elderly.

We know it is Government policy to abolish the Seanad. If that succeeds, no Minister will have to come in here to defend himself or herself or answer difficult questions on legislation, but from this legislation, it appears it will not even been necessary to go the Dáil to change the criteria for income. The Minister made the point in the other House that it was linked to the consumer price index.