Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It depends on whom one speaks to. I believed the Senator was more concerted in his approach than that.

Universal access to primary care, the area with which I am most concerned in my remit, is a commitment in the programme for Government. It is essential. The objective is shared by both parties in government. I refer to the objective of having universal access to one's doctor, to primary care, without the barrier of fees. It is not just desirable but we must achieve it. As I said in this debate last week, unless we start to shift the focus of health services towards primary care and away, in so far as it is possible, from the acute services into the community, we will not be able to address the health needs of citizens in the future. It is essential not just to achieve the equity Senator David Cullinane advocates but also to fund health services in the first instance. To fund them, we must have a better system of primary care and access to primary care without the barrier of fees. That is what I am absolutely dedicated to achieving, as is the Government.

What are we doing? We set out our proposal in this regard in the programme for Government. There was a further elaboration on the particular route we intend to take on universal primary care earlier this year. In the budget, there was an announcement of an extension of universal access to primary care for children under six, that is, children aged five and under. That is part of a plan to extend universal access without fees to the entire population. That remains absolutely the commitment of the Government.

This brings me to Senator David Cullinane's objection. He stated, not for the first time, that the proposals in this Bill are inconsistent with the broad policy. For the umpteenth time, I contend they are not. If we were depriving anybody of free access to a GP under this Bill, the Senator would have a point. We are not, however. I do not make light of this. Senator MacSharry is correct that nobody, and certainly no Minister, embraces in this House the fact that we must change or adjust eligibility criteria for those over 70. I do not embrace that-----