I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."
Health Bill 2008: Order for Second Stage.
Bill entitled an Act to amend the Health Act 1970, the Health Contributions Act 1979, the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and the Civil Registration Act 2004, to make provision in relation to eligibility for services under the Health Act 1970 and for liability for health contributions and to provide for matters connected therewith.
The Labour Party does not agree to the moving of the Order for Second Stage. We are profoundly opposed to the presentation of this legislation in the democratic forum of this House. Senior citizens should not bear the brunt of the mismanagement of the economy in recent years and the budgetary cuts that have been imposed as a result. The Minister and the Government know well that their backbenchers do not approve of this legislation.
The Deputy will have the opportunity to make her points on Second Stage.
We will soon find out whether they have the courage to stand up for what they believe in. The Labour Party intends to give them every opportunity to put their votes where their mouths are. This is profoundly unjust legislation which should be withdrawn forthwith.
There can only be a very short contribution to this procedural motion before the House.
I support Deputy O'Sullivan. Fine Gael is utterly opposed to this Bill. It is detrimental to the elderly and to the economy because the measure it seeks to rescind has been shown to bring social and health gains to the persons concerned. The longitudinal study at St. James's Hospital has proven that beyond doubt. The paltry sum of money that will be saved — €16 million in general practitioner fees — could have been saved without damage to the elderly if negotiations had taken place. I ask that the House reject the Order for Second Stage and that the Government continue its negotiations with pharmacists and other professionals and leave the elderly out of it.
The Deputy will have an opportunity to make those points on Second Stage.
We do not like hypocrites.
Nor do I.
There will be many examples of hypocrisy in the voting pattern in this House today and tomorrow. I urge the Taoiseach to withdraw this Bill. We in Sinn Féin absolutely oppose the reneging on the commitment already given to over 70s to an entitlement for all to a medical card. This is a retrograde step, one that moves away from what we would wish to see in place, namely, universal entitlement to medical care for all citizens on the basis of need and need alone. We will oppose this retrograde Bill at every opportunity.
Question put.
The Dáil divided: Tá, 77; Níl, 67.
Tá
- Ahern, Dermot.
- Ahern, Michael.
- Ahern, Noel.
- Andrews, Barry.
- Andrews, Chris.
- Ardagh, Seán.
- Aylward, Bobby.
- Blaney, Niall.
- Brady, Áine.
- Brady, Cyprian.
- Brady, Johnny.
- Browne, John.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Carey, Pat.
- Collins, Niall.
- Conlon, Margaret.
- Connick, Seán.
- Cowen, Brian.
- Cregan, John.
- Cuffe, Ciarán.
- Cullen, Martin.
- Curran, John.
- Dempsey, Noel.
- Devins, Jimmy.
- Dooley, Timmy.
- Fahey, Frank.
- Fitzpatrick, Michael.
- Fleming, Seán.
- Flynn, Beverley.
- Gallagher, Pat The Cope.
- Gogarty, Paul.
- Grealish, Noel.
- Hanafin, Mary.
- Harney, Mary.
- Haughey, Seán.
- Healy-Rae, Jackie.
- Hoctor, Máire.
- Kelleher, Billy.
- Kelly, Peter.
- Kenneally, Brendan.
- Kennedy, Michael.
- Kirk, Seamus.
- Kitt, Michael P.
- Lenihan, Brian.
- Lenihan, Conor.
- McEllistrim, Thomas.
- McGrath, Mattie.
- McGrath, Michael.
- McGuinness, John.
- Mansergh, Martin.
- Martin, Micheál.
- Moloney, John.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Mulcahy, Michael.
- Nolan, M.J.
- Ó Cuív, Éamon.
- Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
- O’Brien, Darragh.
- O’Connor, Charlie.
- O’Dea, Willie.
- O’Flynn, Noel.
- O’Hanlon, Rory.
- O’Keeffe, Batt.
- O’Keeffe, Edward.
- O’Rourke, Mary.
- Power, Peter.
- Power, Seán.
- Roche, Dick.
- Ryan, Eamon.
- Sargent, Trevor.
- Scanlon, Eamon.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Treacy, Noel.
- Wallace, Mary.
- White, Mary Alexandra.
- Woods, Michael.
Níl
- Allen, Bernard.
- Bannon, James.
- Barrett, Seán.
- Behan, Joe.
- Breen, Pat.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Burke, Ulick.
- Burton, Joan.
- Byrne, Catherine.
- Carey, Joe.
- Connaughton, Paul.
- Coonan, Noel J.
- Costello, Joe.
- Coveney, Simon.
- Crawford, Seymour.
- Creighton, Lucinda.
- D’Arcy, Michael.
- Deasy, John.
- Deenihan, Jimmy.
- Doyle, Andrew.
- Durkan, Bernard J.
- English, Damien.
- Enright, Olwyn.
- Feighan, Frank.
- Ferris, Martin.
- Flanagan, Terence.
- Gilmore, Eamon.
- Hayes, Brian.
- Hayes, Tom.
- Higgins, Michael D.
- Hogan, Phil.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Kehoe, Paul.
- Kenny, Enda.
- Lynch, Ciarán.
- Lynch, Kathleen.
- McCormack, Pádraic.
- McGinley, Dinny.
- McGrath, Finian.
- McHugh, Joe.
- McManus, Liz.
- Mitchell, Olivia.
- Morgan, Arthur.
- Naughten, Denis.
- Neville, Dan.
- Noonan, Michael.
- Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
- Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
- O’Donnell, Kieran.
- O’Dowd, Fergus.
- O’Keeffe, Jim.
- O’Shea, Brian.
- O’Sullivan, Jan.
- Penrose, Willie.
- Quinn, Ruairí.
- Rabbitte, Pat.
- Reilly, James.
- Ring, Michael.
- Sheahan, Tom.
- Sheehan, P.J.
- Sherlock, Seán.
- Shortall, Róisín.
- Stagg, Emmet.
- Stanton, David.
- Tuffy, Joanna.
- Upton, Mary.
- Varadkar, Leo.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Pat Carey and John Cregan; Níl, Deputies Paul Kehoe and Emmet Stagg.
Question declared carried.