Medical-card withdrawals and health debate
The Leader repeats Government medical-card figures, undertakes to raise cancer patients’ cases with the Health Minister, and rejects an immediate separate ministerial appearance on health matters.
She was an excellent Minister of State and I wish her well for the future.
Senator John Kelly and other Senators raised the question of discretionary medical cards. The matter was raised yesterday on the Order of Business. I gave a fairly detailed reply in which I stated that 48% of the people are on medical cards and more than 2.1 million will be on medical cards by the end of the year. I am repeating myself for those who did not attend yesterday and have raised the issue today. It is wrong. If it is the situation that people who have cancer and have their medical cards withdrawn that is absolutely disgraceful. If that is the situation-----
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Allow me to finish, please. I will make representations to the Minister for Health. As regards calling for the Minister for Health to come to the House, we will have the three Ministers for health in the House for 24 hours, at least, on a Bill next week.
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To ask them to come in to address other matters-----
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-----when they are in the House for 24 dealing with legislation is disingenuous.
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The Leader is being disingenuous.
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The Senator is being disingenuous.
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It is like a mantra. He comes in every week.