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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Blind man’s medical certificate

Summary

Senator Keogan complained of being given the run-around on a case where a blind man is denied a primary medical certificate and so cannot access the disabled drivers and passengers scheme.

An election must be very imminent. I do not see a Fine Gael Member in the House. They must know something the rest of us do not.

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Mark Daly An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fianna Fáil

I ask the Senator not to refer to people who are not present. It is a Standing Order.

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I am just saying. Deputy Leader, I am getting the run-around. It is not often I get the run-around from Ministers but I am getting it, on a very serious issue. Maybe the Leader's intervention might help me to get the matter resolved. A gentleman who is blind is not entitled to a primary medical certificate, which means he is excluded from the disabled drivers and passengers scheme. Vision Ireland called on the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to review the existing medical criteria to include vision impairment under the scheme. When I contacted the Minister of State, however, her Department sent me to the Minister for Finance. Then I was sent back to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who has now sent me to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I prefer not to have the run-around, to tell the truth. I like things to be dealt with very straight. I ask the Deputy Leader to please intervene. I will send her on the details today. She might be able to get an answer to this question for me.

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