Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I fully support the Minister and I do not support the amendment. I have raised this matter in the House previously. A 1976 High Court decision decided that nursing home care came under the definition of medical care.

As a result people received an entitlement that was not intended when medical cards were introduced. Likewise, this section states that having an identifier number does not give the person an entitlement. That is an important clarification in the Bill. I support fully what the Minister of State says on this matter. It is an important section.