After the local and European elections we have all suffered major losses.

The Senator’s party did. We did not. We increased our seats.

Some people have made gains. I congratulate those who were elected and commiserate with those who were not. Some very fine people have lost local and European seats.

I pay tribute to one person, a cousin of mine who died suddenly on Friday, Councillor Owen Bannigan of Lough Egish in County Monaghan. He served the people very well. He was an outstanding member of his community, party and family. He died doing what he loved best, serving the people on the canvass on Friday. I also pay a personal tribute to his family.

I have raised the issue of discretionary medical cards countless times. It is one of the main issues on which the people have spoken. I note the Minister of Health’s comments yesterday that he would sort them out for people with motor neurone disease and Down's syndrome.

I would also like a debate on the issue, as certain conditions cannot be categorised. I have stated from the day I entered this Chamber that all people with a disability should be entitled to a medical card, regardless of income. It should be an automatic entitlement. People come to me every day who may be slightly over the threshold but they may have children and if the assessors saw what parents are coping with on a daily basis, there would be a change. This is our opportunity to examine the issue of discretionary medical cards and I join the call for a debate on it.