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THE GOVERNMENT HAS pledged to publish legislation to extend free GP care and ban the use of sunbeds by people under 18 before the end of the year as it released its legislative programme for the autumn this afternoon.
There have been suggestions in recent days that the government will seek to announce the extension of free GP to all under-5s in the Budget.
Today’s legislative agenda pledges to publish legislation extending the publicly funded GP service that currently exists but it does not specify for whom.
The bill from the Department of Health is one of 30 that the government is saying it will publish this autumn with it also committing to publishing a bill to abolish severance payments for outgoing ministers and to reform the party leaders’ allowance regime.
At present independent TDs are entitled to €41,000 of unvouched payments every year to carry out their work.
A new law from the Department of Health – the Public Health Sunbeds Bill – will also be published with the aim of regulating the use of sunbeds and ban their use by people under 18.
Three government departments will publish separate legislation to amalgamate the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority; the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority; and the Railway Procurement Agency and the National Roads Authority.
Leglislation to reform local authorities – ahead of the local eelctions next year – as well as new laws to deal with the problem of pyrite and to give powers to the new water body, Irish Water, are also promised.
With the Constituency Commission due to report its findings on the redrawing of Ireland’s European Parliament constituency boundaries at the end of the month, legislation will also be published to give effect to those changes.
“This programme outlines the details of 30 Bills the Government will publish before the end of 2013. We also confirm that the Government has published 139 Bills since taking office in March 2011 and the Oireachtas has enacted 124 in that time,” the Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe said in a statement today.
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The very reason FG were anywhere near the top of my preferences in 2011 was the promise of universal GP care.
I know they have run into difficulties with it & though extension to the under 5s would be good,…. it would not be good enough.
Everyone wants more more more from the government. But will then winge when taxes go up to pay for all of this.
Joey, as an American I’m guessing it’s much better than whats available to you and your at home in the US?
No to free GP for all, yes to under 5 and over 65,
Time would be better spent banning GPs charging more than 20 euro a visit, over priced for passing you on to a consultant, 55 euro for gods sake, robbers
Shay, tell ya what – you get up and go sign up for medical school, fight for a place on the GP training scheme, then set up shop to undercut the GPs.
Otherwise stop being silly.
Sig your a funny guy, 55 for ten minutes , get real man, and if I wanted to be a GP I would do as you said, I don’t,
this had become a cartel,
How much does an expert assessment and opinion from your plumber/ electrician/ barber cost?
You’re a very silly man.
Sig, all the above take more than ten minutes, and the plumber takes the call out charge of the bill, as does the electrician,
I went to a GP charged 55 euro, did bloods 20euro, called back for result 55 euro, then said I needed opp with nurse before he would prescribe medications nurse 25 euro,
That’s 155 euro, and robbery, just to clarify elevated cholesterol nothing serious, and this I have discovered is not an isolated incident
And sig, people on long term sick get 188euro a week , must give weekly note to their workplace, charge for the note 10 euro, left with 178, robbery sig,
And I’m not in that situation thank god
155 quid to sort out a condition that can kill you.
So silly.
Sig , I give up, the cost of bloods 20euro , fair enough , visit to doc, ok 50euro, 70 should have sorted it out , robbery, not 155, and I didn’t go back which would be another 55, anyway we beg to differ
Lol. No point in going back, sure you probably know better yourself anyway shay. Sure the doctor’s probably only charging you so he can pay the guy who’s painting his yacht! lmao
Tis indeed robbery sure Shay, what do them doctors know anyways. It’ll be grand sure.
41 k into the backpocket..unvouched! If anyone needed proof of how out of touch they are !..there it is.
Do we really need 166 of these parasites?
That’s for INDEPENDENT TDs, i.e. not government backing TDs who are all members of political parties.
They get this money because they don’t have the same resources a political party has to research topics and issues. So independent TDs are able to employ, when needed, research assistants to help them.
in the case of political parties the money (as i understand it) goes to the party itself !
still 166 x€41,000…still parasites.
Incorrect. Unvouched for expenses for the most part went in the last budget: http://www.thejournal.ie/budget-2013-unvouched-expenses-abolished-702969-Dec2012/
That link also says that those who do opt for unvouched expenses can only claim up to €15,000 per year, not €41,000.
Have they talked to the GPs yet???….
I believe they did… but they broje down without much progress.
Understandable as the GPs will lose out without us chumps paying €50-€60 per visit.
Lol the GP’s would probably gain. More GMS patients=more consultations. They deserve be paid for them in fairness.
There were no talks though as I understand it.
Incidentally I’m not a GP. I work in health economics.
Dave, GPs don’t get paid per consultation for GMS patients, the fee is annual, regardless of number of visits.
I know that sr, but the rate of consultation will likely rise as allowing for confounders, those with free access attend more frequently. They can’t not pay GPs after creating work for them.
Well they can try, like with the NCCP, but in fairness the icgp shot that one down. For the time being anyway.
Anyone know what happened with the last “promise” made to extend care to the long term chronic sick?
I note nothing…in fact those with cancer who were previously given medical cards for the duration of their treatment had them pulled….
How about making it free gp care to all under 18s to help all the parents struggling to keep their kids in school and put food on the table
Wow! What a great commpassionate government we have .What next will they bring back the butter vouchers for the poor people on welfare?
I remember back in the day the local newsagent would take them in exchange for cigarettes!
So much for free GP care for everyone as Roisin Shorthall had promised. Perhaps that’s why they were glad to see the back of her.
Free gp care for under fives is great!
It is indeed but it’s not enough.
It’s stupid. The children of millionaires will be seen for free, whilst those on the margins (say 6 year old of struggling parents) will lose out. Simple.
For those who think it’s a good idea, look at Joanne Meagher’s post above, then look at the nearest millionaire driving a 2013 merc. Bear in mind the children of the millionaire will see a GP for free, Joanne won’t. That’s pathetically stupid. Buying votes. Gombeen politics.
Who’s taxes do you think will be paying for it dave?
Surely a universal GP care system needs to start somewhere and 0-5 is as good a place as any. Actually it is probably more expensive as in that age as parents get more frightened about small things and already go to the GP for reassurance.
In fairness, Bernard, I see what you’re getting at, but it’s a bit thick. As good a place as any to start would be with the most needy. Seriously, if someone’s earning, say 800k a week, do they need free GP care??
Secondly, you’re right, it’d be nice to turn to GP’s for reassurance, but reaslistically, it’s difficult as it stands to get a same day GP appointment. Blocking up valuable time with the worried well, wondering do they need an antibiotic for a child with a snotty nose is insane.
John, I presume it’ll come from general taxation, so in a bizarre anti-robin hood type scenario, the poor will be subsidising medical care for the rich. Just like happened with the over 70s tbf.
That said, I’m not sure whose taxes will pay for it, hasn’t been announced yet. Maybe nobodies as it smacks of pie in the sky bullshit gombeen political stroke politics.
I have had a long term incurable serious illness for the past 6 years, because I don’t qualify for a medical card!! I have to pay every time I attend the doctor which is most months and all my medication which cost €145 every month if I didn’t take my meds I would end up in hospital and cost the country a lot more, I really think they should have extended it to the long term or serious illness patients!! But as they said Fine geal it would be to much trouble!!
Joanne what about a gp services card or long term illness book for meds?
I looked into that, to qualify for a medical card now you really need to be on social welfare and neither myself or my husband are!! I can’t work but my husband dose!!
Hi Joan it’s not a medical card it’s a gp visit card , here some info just in case it could help you .
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/entitlement_to_health_services/gp_visit_cards.html
Your so good thanks I’ll check it out.
My Italian mate works in a coffee shop and he gets a full mmedical card. Makes me angry!
I would advise getting the drug refund card which will at least limit your monthly meds bill for your family by a small amount. The amount you must pay yourself is 144€, but that would be monthly max for you, your husband and any children in your family in totality. Anything above that is covered by the state as long as you are registered. There is no qualification for the scheme. It is just a family limit.
A lot of things were promised from this government
Why are they waiting till the end of the year to ban under 18′s from sunbeds , that sort of bill should be rushed in overnight . You can bet if there was money to be had by Kenny it would be
Plus I had thought their use by u18s had been banned a while back when Harney was health minister.
Most sunbed shops wont allow under 18s to use their facilities anyway.
Sure what do we need sunbeds for?? Hasnt himself just said the sunshine is on the way back! http://jrnl.ie/1089153
Is it me, or is that photo begging for a caption?
@ Brian: ♫Tie a yellow ribbon round the old yokes please♫
Present, aim, fire?
What happened to the free gp care for long term illness card holders that we were promised over 2 years ago ?!
‘ahead of the local eelctions next year’ – I think this should read ‘elections’.
‘Leglislation to reform local authorities’ – I think this should read ‘legislation’.
have your say