Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like many Members I join in the congratulations to all those who were successful in the various elections, both local, national and European, and commiserate with the people who lost out, many of them having given 20 years or 30 years of loyal service to the people they represented. We should think of them as well today.

Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the question of an electoral commission. My understanding is that it is in the programme for Government and should and will be delivered. The point was also raised by Senator Bacik. I will try to get an update for the House on the creation of an electoral commission.

Several Members also raised discretionary medical cards. The issue has been raised in this House on a number of occasions. I agree that in many instances the communications that have been sent to pensioners and people with long-term illnesses have been less than acceptable. Surely there is something wrong with a system that asks for such information from people in their 80s and 90s who have a discretionary medical card and who were reviewed last year. Such people should not be asked again for information when they were given a medical card that is valid until 2018. That is the type of thing that is going wrong for which there is no explanation. I do not stand over such practices. It is bureaucracy gone mad. I agree that the matter stops with the Minister. He must take action to ensure this does not continue. The Government will respond and the matter will be dealt with in early course.