Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On my own behalf and on behalf of my colleagues, I would like to condemn the brutal attack on two young girls in Athlone. All of us are fully aware that this is a matter for the Garda. An individual has been charged. I will say no more, other than to emphasise that our thoughts are with the two children and their families. I am sure the State will give them all the support that is required. I will say no more as I am aware that this is a matter for the Garda and will be a matter for the courts. It shook all of us to the very core to hear that something like this had happened.

I was interested to hear that one of the Adjournment motions relates to discretionary medical cards. I would like to call for a debate on this matter in advance of the budget . All of us know that thousands of discretionary medical cards that had been given to people with long-term illnesses, including children - I am dealing with a number of such cases - and the elderly, have been withdrawn and are being reviewed. It is taking months for any decision to be taken. I remind the Leader that when this Government was formed, the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, promised to extend medical cards to those with certain prescribed long-term illnesses. As I noted earlier this year, he has since rowed back on that. He has said that legal issues arise in this regard, apparently, so he does not intend to extend medical card eligibility.

I ask the Minister and Government to intervene in this area. This is a growing crisis. I am sure all of us have cases with which we are endeavouring to deal. When one is dealing with a family whose child is completely non-responsive and mentally and physically disabled and who cannot walk and talk and needs full 24-hour care but who has had 80% of his or her respite care cut and, on top of that, has had his or her medical card withdrawn, nobody in their right mind could stand over that type of decision. We need a proper debate on this to tease out what is really happening because it is getting worse and I do not think people will stand for it. If the Minister came in here, it would give him an opportunity to hear specific testimony from people all over the country with whom we are dealing. Senator Kelly has raised this issue on numerous occasions and I and other colleagues respect him for doing so but we are not getting anywhere with it. It is getting worse and needs to be addressed. This House can address it.

The public has a major decision to make this Friday in respect of the establishment of the court of appeal, which my party and I fully support, and the abolition of the Seanad, which my party and I condemn and on which we are calling for a "No" vote. Whatever the result, any Government must in future look at the conduct of the Government campaign.