Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators MacSharry, Henry, Mullins, Coghlan and others raised the issue of discretionary medical cards. I am not agreeing to the amendment proposed to the Order of Business. The Minister has spoken on the matter and he is examining the situation. Senator MacSharry gave a wrong indication when he spoke about blind people, especially when we recall that Fianna Fáil completely cut the blind people's allowances but we will not go into that. Several Members pointed out that problems exist with regard to medical cards and Senator Leyden referred to documents having gone missing. I have come across that problem on several occasions. It is very frustrating for people who know that they have given in the required information to be then told their documents have gone missing. That is totally unacceptable, irrespective of what Department or organisation is involved. It is extremely frustrating for the people concerned.

Senators Kelly made the point that a German company is involved in reviewing medical cards and Senator Leyden also referred to that point. Those comments deserve a response and I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister.

Senator MacSharry also raised the issue of water charges. The Government has taken a brave stance, which the other side of the House said would not happen. The Government said it would give an indication of what the charges would be before an election. There is no cuteness going on here. We are putting the figures in a transparent manner to the people before an election, which is to be welcomed. I think people will welcome this. They certainly will not welcome having to pay more money but they will welcome the transparency of the Government in coming up front and putting these figures before the people.

In regard to Fianna Fáil, its original deal with the troika envisaged a €400 annual charge from last year with no allowances. That is what it signed up to. In regard to Sinn Féin, in Northern Ireland they already charge for water indirectly as part of the domestic rates regime, which includes a property tax.

Sinn Féin recently deferred the introduction of direct charging for water until 2016. At an average of €950 per household, domestic rates in the North are already far in excess of the equivalent in the South.