Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall but I am just saying I am not dissociating myself from anything I said. This is what is happening and what is going on in front of our eyes. Yes, the extension to the medical card is very welcome, as are the changes to the 1995 Act's provisions, but we will have questions and no answers and around the house and mind the dresser. All these things are going on in the HSE. It is back to mismanagement and a lack of accountability. The Minister for Health is at variance with what is going on. For taxpayers and the families of those children and women who lost their lives, it is a shocking indictment on the House. It is a shocking indictment on the Department of Health and on all of us who allowed it to go on. Mar fhocal scoir I repeat this.

Why do we not deal with the issues we should be dealing with? This is special legislation to deal with an issue. Every piece of legislation or statutory instrument should have an automatic review of its impact. There are unforeseen consequences. Nobody can see ahead to what might happen. We should have the capacity to be able to review all legislation after it beds in. There should be an automatic three-month or six-month review. It should be analysed to see whether pieces of it need to be tweaked or whether there are parts that disallow people access to a scheme. For example, there are people who want to use the rent a room scheme, but if they do, they will lose out in so many other areas. There should be some way to review all legislation. We should not have to come back with more legislation. I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for his indulgence.

See this speech in context