I support Senator Ó Donnghaile's amendment. He is right in what he says about Cahersiveen. He mentioned my colleague, Senator Hoey, who has raised this very important issue. We will back his call for an amendment.

The issue I wish to raise is that of medical cards, particularly the renewal of same. I ask the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for Health to the House in order that we might debate with him the issues surrounding medical cards at this time. This is nothing new for me to bring up here. In April, the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, in reply to a question I asked him here, stated that he did not want to see medical card renewals "become a burden for people during this time". In fairness, he stated that he made this clear to his Department and the HSE. This seemed to work, and I am sure Members will have dealt with cases in which medical card holders had been told their renewals were okay until 2021 and beyond. The reason I bring this up today is that I have had a number of calls this week and, even though we are still in the middle of a pandemic and supposedly "all in this together", it looks as if renewals are back on the table again. One such call I got this week, on Tuesday, was from a man in his late 60s. He had spent seven months in hospital, most of that time, unfortunately, with the dreaded Covid virus. He has a medical card that is valid until the end of October, but one of the first letters he received on his arrival home stated that he must renew his medical card. These cards, as I have said previously, are comfort blankets for so many people. The stress this man is now under is unbelievable. This should not be the case. As the previous Minister for Health said, he did not want to see medical card renewals being a burden in April due to the pandemic. We are still in that pandemic, and that is why I am asking for the current Minister to come before us.

I also wish to use this opportunity, as fellow Senators have done in recent weeks, to support John Wall in his campaign for automatic medical cards for terminally ill patients. Unfortunately, like other Members, I am sure, I know too well the process John and those with terminal cancer are being put through. I will continue to fight for a one-tier health system whereby the State, rather than those who see health as a profit-making exercise, would control treatment and healthcare costs. In the meantime, for people such as John Wall, the least we should do is provide the comfort blanket that is a medical card at a time they need it most.

Yesterday the Minister with responsibility for climate change, communications networks and transport announced funding to the tune of €4.5 million for 26 greenway projects throughout the country. I warmly welcome this announcement. Recently I spoke to a friend who, by his own admission, is anything but green in his outlook or thinking, but the lockdown gave him some time to think. He escaped the sheer pace and pressure of life and work. He took to his bicycle again for the first time in 30 years and with his two children went on daily cycles around Dublin city. He heard the birds sing for the first time. When the lockdown relaxed, however, he resented the return of mechanically propelled vehicles. This was an epiphany for just one person. In Cork city yesterday, we had an announcement of several streets being pedestrianised, putting people first, providing for al fresco dining and showcasing Ireland's tourism. The future is bright; the future is green. In the programme for Government, the Green Party has negotiated a 2:1 balance in favour of public transport instead of roads, roads and more roads. At the heart of public transport, of course, are trains and buses, but also cycling and walking. In my commuter belt county of Kildare, cycling and walking provide a boost to tourism and a safe and healthy pastime. Kildare is also very close to Dublin and where people work. When we have the Grand Canal greenway and the other greenways up and running, people will be able to commute daily to work in certain places. I welcome the announcement made yesterday and look forward to better things to come. This is just the design feasibility and funding stage. The future is green and the future is bright.