Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do have a question. I want to know what the position is with regard to Senator Quinn's Bill. Will the Government accept the Bill in the Dáil?

I would also like to commend my colleague Senator Mary White and thank the Government for agreeing to pass the Parental Leave Bill 2013 on Committee Stage. It is very good legislation and all of us agree with it. That Bill gives lie to what the Taoiseach and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, said in the run-up to the campaign to abolish the Seanad - namely, that the Seanad was a dog that never barked. That assertion is completely untrue, as demonstrated yesterday by Bills from Senators Quinn and White. This House has a very important function and carries out that function very well.

Finally, I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the proposed new GP contracts. I ask that the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, or the Minister of State, Deputy White - to whom the buck seems to have been passed on this issue - come to the House to discuss the matter. I ask that we be given an opportunity to put some of the concerns of the GPs directly to the Minister or Minister of State. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate specifically on the contract for the under-sixes. Most of us would prefer to see children who need GP cards getting them. I am all for the idea of under-sixes having free GP care but I am not in favour of children who are seven, eight or nine losing medical cards or GP cards. What is the point in trying to roll out an unworkable contract to give free GP care to healthy children under six, many of whom are in families who can afford to pay for such care, while taking medical cards and GP cards from children and the elderly who need them? I met a woman last week with terminal lung cancer who really needs her card. Cystic fibrosis patients are having their cards taken from them and the Government knows this. I ask that the Minister of State come to the House to address these issues and urge the Leader to make the necessary arrangements.