Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I take the opportunity to welcome certain aspects of the budget, including the retention of the VAT rate for the tourism sector, as referred to by colleagues. The investment in research will be extremely important and valuable, particularly as it is targeted in very specific areas. The provision for additional teachers and resource teachers is also very welcome, as is the retention of the pupil-teacher ratio. The development of the Wild Atlantic Way, which will stretch from Donegal to Kerry, is an excellent way of tying together the wonderful assets we have on our Atlantic coast and offering a more attractive proposition to the international market.

There is much confusion, fear, anger and hardship with the medical card situation we are facing. Can we ask the Minister for Health for some clarification? I listened to the remarks of the Ministers, Deputies Howlin, Noonan and Reilly, as well as those of the Minister of State, Deputy White, and the message seems to be that the people who are entitled to a medical card will have one. Despite this, fear, confusion and anger are being created within the media and the Opposition. We need clarity. It cannot be given on the health budget because it is a 24-7 service and there are months of the year left to run. Perhaps somebody needs to be put in charge over the next month to figure out why certain people appear to have lost their medical cards when they had them until last week or last month. Such clarity would bring comfort to those who need a medical card and who appear to be eligible. Mistakes can be made in a system in which more people than ever have medical cards. Bringing some clarity would take away the fear, confusion and anger. It would help if that could be done as soon as possible for the medical card system.