Children First and mother-and-baby homes
Deputy Adams seeks progress on the Children First Bill, an inquiry into the Tuam remains, and action on GP legislation. The Minister says the relevant Bills await Committee Stage and medical-card proposals will return to Cabinet.
Tá cúpla ceist agam faoi reachtaíocht atá forfhógartha. When will the Children First Bill 2014, which seeks to provide key child protection measures, return to the Dáil for Report Stage? As the Minister will be aware, it has emerged that the remains of 800 babies were found in convent grounds in Tuam. Will the Government establish, as a matter of urgency, a full public inquiry into this matter and the treatment of women and children in mother and baby homes?
Tá ceist eile agam faoi the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill. The Minister alluded to the provision of free general practitioner care for children aged under six years, the scheme for which has been promised for next month. Will he confirm that the scheme will be in place next month? When will the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill proceed to Committee Stage?
The Minister hinted that citizens who were denied medical cards will have their cards restored. Will they have to wait for a month to receive their medical cards?
Comment on this
The Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill has completed Second Stage and is awaiting Committee Stage. The Children First Bill is in a similar position. It has completed Second Stage and Committee Stage is awaited.
The commitment with regard to children aged under six years will be fulfilled by the Minister, as I informed Deputy Martin. If legislation is required to restore medical cards to those who lost them in the review that has been taking place for some months, it will be introduced by the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, and Minister of State, Deputy Alex White. The Minister and Minister of State will, in the first instance, return to government with their proposals in the next two weeks.