Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I can understand how Senator Gilroy might not want us to raise these issues because they are issues of serious contention to the general public. Any curtailment of this, and the fact that the Minister is looking at those over 70 who worked hard over the years and taking away the medical card from them, is a retrograde step.

My party made pre-budget submissions about other choices that could have been made as opposed to these cutbacks. The Minister of State can dress it up as he likes, but this is a retrograde cutback and my party will oppose it wholeheartedly.