Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will just take a few minutes to make some comments on the Bill. There is not much point in repeating much of what has already been said. First, I give the Minister my sincere good wishes. He has great enthusiasm for the job. They say nobody wants the job of Minister for Health. When in opposition, he was always enthusiastic and listened to people's point of view. He came up with some very good suggestions. Every minister for health in the world faces a major challenge at the moment in respect of the pandemic. We should remember that the Minister and his predecessor, Deputy Harris, who I am sure have worries in their own lives, also have to worry about a whole population. They have had to explain why we need to stay the course and why we need to be careful. I want to acknowledge that here today. Being the Minister for Health is a challenging job in ordinary times but it is now very challenging.

I very much welcome the Bill. Section 2 increases the income limits for medical card eligibility for those over 70. For a couple this limit will be increased to €1,050 and for a single person it will increase from €500 to €550. I know from experience how often people who are just slightly over the limit will come to a public representative's clinic. Regardless of what one does, one cannot get their cases over the line. Staff in the medical card section are good at helping to get people across the line in special circumstances but on so many occasions people who desperately need the card cannot get it. I welcome this increase very much. I am sure the public will also welcome it.

Sections 4 to 6, inclusive, make changes in respect of free GP care for children. Again, when parents have to take a child to a doctor and then go to a chemist, €100 can go very quickly. Our children are teenagers now; they are not babies any more. We are thankful that we did not have to spend a lot of time running back and forth to doctors but these costs were significant in the past for parents, particularly lone parents, who were not eligible for medical cards. It is a very good progression and very welcome.

There are great challenges in the health sector for the Minister and for all politicians. The Minister has been very honest in saying that everything will not happen overnight. Like most people here, however, I hope we will be able to progress some of it pretty quickly and make some changes the public will welcome at a time when they are seriously challenged in many ways.

We have an ageing population. It is great to see people living longer and having a good quality of life. There is no doubt that, although we often criticise the health service, there is a better quality of life in Ireland in many ways. That is proven by the fact that people are living longer. Naturally enough, however, when people live longer, they will develop some ailments and will need more assistance and care. People's GPs are so important to them.Senator Fitzpatrick mentioned her father and the GP practice in the house. Indeed, I can remember in my town of Strokestown one went to the doctor's house and there was a waiting room in the house off the surgery. That is all changed nowadays but there is that important link between the GP and the patients. For people, such as my mother and her friends, their visit to the GP when something is wrong is so important to them. They have such faith and belief in the GP and always feel comforted by him or her when they make that visit.

I wish the Minister well. It is great to have him bringing this Bill before the House. As I stated earlier, I would love to see some of it progressing as quickly as possible but I still acknowledge and admire the fact that he has stated it will be introduced in phases. I accept that. The Minister is being honest and upfront about that. It is very important because sometimes ministerial announcements are made and nothing happens for a long time. The Minister is pointing out that there will be a phased development and even though we want the legislation implemented as quickly as possible, I acknowledge his honesty in the debate on that.