Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Senator Coghlan made a very powerful case about the loss of the hen harrier. Not to be flippant, but I agree with him on our nomadic breeds of Kerry birds and Kerry people, as during Seanad election campaigns he can be found in very quare places and is well able to make his way around.

I wish to raise the issue of problems with medical cards and the fact there is no cross-checking between the Department of Social Protection and the HSE. It is ridiculous in this day and age that subsistence farmers in long-term receipt of farm assist are compelled when seeking a medical card to get a tax clearance certificate from the Revenue Commissioners. It is obvious to anyone that a farmer or any person in receipt of a long-term social welfare payment has gone through the hoops and has been checked every second year to ensure he or she meets the criteria to receive farm assist, but these recipients are compelled to go a step further and get a tax clearance certificate from Revenue.

I am aware of a farmer who has serious health issues. He is in his early 60s and has severe arthritis, blood pressure and other problems. He has not taken his medication for the past 18 months because he went to a tax adviser accountant who told him if he paid €500, the accountant would prove he did not owe anything to Revenue. This is ridiculous. Why does the HSE not look at the bona fides of this man's application and state that as he has been in receipt of farm assist for the past eight or ten years, it will accept he is a very poor surviving farmer with a family and forget this extra requirement?

I have written to the Minister about this issue. It is an absolute disgrace. This is one of several instances I can describe. It is an attempt by the Department of Health through the HSE to deprive people in so far as possible of medical cards. I was under the assumption listening to the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, that young children with special needs were automatically entitled to medical cards. Alas most of them do not receive one, which is ridiculous. I ask the Leader to check both of these issues. If what I come across in my area is prevalent throughout the country, it is an absolute disgrace the Department of Social Protection does not look over its shoulder to check with the Department of Health on these issues.