John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support my colleagues who have raised the withdrawal of discretionary medical cards for cancer patients. I have campaigned on the issue for years. When Ms Mary Harney was Minister for Health and Children I wrote to her explaining the unbelievable stress these people were undergoing and that we should grant them a medical card without a means test. What we are now proposing to do is a disgrace because in effect we are giving them a medical card that is a death certificate because they know they would not get one unless they were soon going to die. I have raised a similar matter on the Adjournment and I will certainly bring it up with the Minister.

The decision on the bank guarantee was made at 4 a.m. by people who could not be thinking rationally. Fair enough, the counter-argument is all about the markets and many people have not a clue what it is all about and I would be such a person. Again last night the Dáil had a vote at 5 a.m. I know the pro-life movement will be looking at the future-----