I ask the Taoiseach about the promise made on budget day with regard to medical cards for those on the median income or below. As I understand it, such a measure would bring nearly 400,000 people into the medical card scheme, albeit for GP visits only. As I understand it, this was to be in place before June. The reply I got to a recent parliamentary question raises questions as to where it is at the moment. With regard to discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, there has been little sign of progress. We all agree that this is a necessary step on the way to building a national health system and implementing the Sláintecare report. Is progress on it faltering? Is it stop-start? What stage is it at? Has the process run into a blockage with the IMO?

As the Deputy will know, we have extended free GP care without fees to everyone under six, everyone over 70 and people in receipt of carer's allowance as well as people who qualify under the means test. The next step is six- and seven-year-olds and people who earn less than the median income. That is a very large number of people, hundreds of thousands. Negotiations are under way with the Irish Medical Organisation, which has raised legitimate concerns with regard to the capacity of GPs to deal with increased attendances, which will arise, and adequate compensation for the loss of private income. We need to get this right. We certainly still intend to get it done this year.