Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not apologise for standing up to speak about medical cards because I do not think enough of us can discuss it. Today, Tuesday, nothing has changed. I welcome the Sinn Féin motion tabled in the Dáil this evening on discretionary medical cards. I welcome the news that the Joint Committee on Health will visit the medical card centre on Thursday next. Following these two events, may we please have a statement or an action plan from the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, or the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, or both, with some solutions for these poor unfortunate children? I empathise with those of all age groups who have had their medical cards taken from them. State demands to involve the finances of parents or guardians should cease forthwith, as recommended by the United Nations report on children. We had news today of a little girl of seven years of age with leukaemia whose parents are trying to have her medical card restored, but the HSE official wanted to speak to the child to verify her details. What are we coming to? Last Thursday night I mentioned a little boy of nine years of age who has been gravely ill and disabled since birth. Both his parents manage to care for him full-time but they also work. Their medical card has been removed. The child needs to be tube-fed and suctioned and has epileptic fits. I ask Ministers to cease discussing free universal health care and free health care for those under six. Let us first look after the people who are desperate in society and in all our communities. All Members are hearing from the people. We must help these people and we must come up with solutions.