We move now to Questions on Policy or Legislation.

The Taoiseach's very cruel decision to withdraw funding for blister pack services has caused huge anger and worry. The Government's penny-pinching means that very vulnerable people will face charges of perhaps up to €50 a month for this service, a charge that many older people simply cannot afford, and may be forced to go without their blister packs, putting their health and welfare at risk.

It is particularly distressing for elderly people with dementia, Alzheimer's, or other serious conditions requiring multiple medications. For them, tablet blister packs are a lifeline to help them remember the right medication to take at the right time and the right dosage. The stress that this has caused should not be underestimated. I have been inundated with messages from older people and their families, who are very worried, angry and hurt. The Taoiseach needs to tell them today that he will reverse permanently this cruel decision and continue to fund the blister pack service.

He needs to tell them they will not be charged-----

The Deputy is way over time. The Taoiseach to respond.

-----not in January, not in March, not ever.

The Government did not withdraw anything. There is a need for proper debate on these matters. Everything gets weaponised and simplified and to hell with the consequences or to heal with the truth behind the issue and so on. I refer to the Irish Pharmacy Union, IPU, statement of last week. This is a bit more complex now than has been articulated by the Deputy's good self and others in the past week up to now.

The Minister has engaged with the representative bodies and there will be further discussions but nothing has been withdrawn by the Government. Some pharmacies provided this free for a long time. Some charged minor amounts and others charged the State. Those who charged the State apparently did it under a different heading. All that needs to be worked out. It is not as simple as the Deputy presents it.

If it is simple do not do what you are doing with blister packs. What is complicated about it?

Politically it is, of course, because that is what the Deputy is fundamentally about.

Time is up, Taoiseach.

There is an obligation on public representatives of all parties-----

There is an obligation on everyone to stay within one minute.

-----to get to the truth of these issues and deal with them in a straightforward way.

Is that a "Yes" or a "No"?