John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Senator Barrett has raised concerns about the extension of universal medical cards to those under the age of five. This Government believes this measure will cost €37 million. When Fianna Fáil extended medical cards to those over the age of 70, it was a blatant attempt to buy votes without doing any mathematics. As the Senator suggested, this was wrong.

I suppose I should not have said so much about Fianna Fáil because I have run out of time. It is necessary to kill certain ideas, such as the idea that the bereavement grant has been reduced. Senator MacSharry said that the grant is €4,500 in Dublin. He does not know what he is talking about. The bereavement grant is €850. Senator Byrne and everyone else in this Chamber who has dealt with this matter will have seen that the money needed in these circumstances is better and easier accessed as an exceptional needs payment. Like Senator Hayden, I have seen this done in my constituency. The structural change that is being made is to be welcomed.