Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Every time I met her she had compassion for my illness.

I wish to raise a serious matter. When I am out canvassing for Fianna Fáil morning, noon and night I am continuously shocked at this coalition Government's cuts to discretionary medical cards. According to recent figures released to the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on health in the Dáil, Deputy Billy Kelleher, the number of people with a discretionary medical card has fallen to below 50,000. All applicants for discretionary medical cards deserve to be treated with due respect and compassion. It is not only a matter of their income which should be taken into account but the sudden onslaught of a serious illness for them or their families. A person diagnosed with a serious illness or disability has enough to worry about without being tortured by travel and hospital expenses. There is a contradiction in the Government giving universal free GP care to children under six years. The way this Government has treated older people in our society is beyond belief. They are the people who need most medical care. When each of us get older we need more prescriptions but the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, has increased the prescription charge five times. He said he would get rid of the 50 cent charge initially but, on the contrary, he has increased it five times. As I said in the House two weeks ago-----