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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Water and GP legislation

Summary

Micheál Martin seeks publication dates for the water services and GP legislation, while the Taoiseach outlines expected timings and discusses the Government’s referendum plans.

They will not be used until approximately five years from now. I have a hunch they will never be used for the purpose for which they were commissioned. When can we expect that water services Bill and will the Taoiseach explain its purpose, given the exhaustive deliberations on the subject which occurred just before Christmas?

The health (general practitioner service) Bill will introduce universal GP services to all those over 70. We know that up to 50,000, or perhaps more, medical cards were taken from people over 70 but they will now get a GP card returned to them. When can we expect that and regulations to be brought forward to provide for children under six getting GP care? The Tánaiste indicated it would happen "soon" or "early in the new year". The Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, has indicated that he "hopes" the scheme will be rolled out by the end of 2015. I know there are growing differences between the Labour Party and Fine Gael, as last week alone I counted six Labour Deputies who condemned Fine Gael.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

This is the Order of Business.

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The Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, frightened me when he said he blamed everything on Fine Gael last week. Will the Taoiseach clarify what will happen with GP care for those under six and over 70?

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

Deputy Stanton made the observation that there should be a short period allocated for discussions in respect of the incidents in Paris. He is Chairman of the committee dealing with justice matters. The Constitutional Convention made a recommendation that references to blasphemy should be removed from the Constitution and the Government accepts that. That referendum will not be held this year. We indicated that in considering the recommendations of the Constitutional Convention, if the Government accepted them, it would say so without indicating a timeline. Two referendums will be held this year and there will not be any further referendums.

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