Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Sorry, I have just been interrupted. Anyway, I am asking for the Minister to come here and for a long debate in the House. It is a long time since we had a debate on medical cards. I call on the Minister for Health to come to the House. Like Senator Mary Ann O'Brien said, we need an action plan to address discretionary medical cards. We are always being told that it is not linked to health issues, complications or illnesses. That is crazy stuff; of course it is. That is why people want the medical card and it is time that we woke up and saw it.

This morning I was delighted to be able to welcome funding for a sewerage scheme in my parish and for water services and a waste treatment plant. We are delighted to be able to welcome these developments but perhaps sometimes we should weigh up which is more important to the people. Is it a sewerage scheme, a road, roadworks, a bypass or looking after our sick children? That is for us to decide.