Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator MacSharry's call to the effect that the Minister for Health should come before the House to debate the position with regard to medical cards. This is a very confusing and complex matter. I understand that people who are entitled to medical cards generally receive them. However, one does hear about certain high-profile cases which attract the attention of the media. I am of the view that there are certain anomalies which exist and to which the Taoiseach alluded in recent days. We do not want to be paying GPs in respect of people whose names are on lists but who may be out of the country, who may not longer be availing of their medical cards or who may be deceased. The HSE is responsible for issuing death certificates and medical certificates. Consequently, the HSE must engage in joined-up thinking in respect of this matter. When a death certificate is being issued, surely it must be possible to strike the name of the deceased person off the medical card list. This would be a sensible step to take in the short term in order to make the system somewhat more transparent. I am sure the Minister would be willing to come before the House in the coming weeks in order to engage in a debate on this matter.