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MORE THAN 1,000 parliamentary questions related to medical cards were asked between January and October of this year.
Some 1,076 questions were asked by TDs on the issue during this period, up from 652 last year and 922 in 2012.
A spokesperson for the HSE, to whom the questions are re-directed, told the Medical Independent approximately 90% of this year’s queries related to individual medical cards, with the remainder generally relating to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service.
Medical cards have repeatedly been on the political agenda in 2014, with Health Minister Leo Varadkar announcing on Tuesday that terminally ill patients will no longer have their cards reviewed.
So, do TDs think asking parliamentary questions about the cards is a good use of Dáil time?
Michael Healy Rae told TheJournal.ie TDs have to bring up medical card queries in the Dáil because the current system is “broken”.
“We had excellent people working in communities in the past such as community welfare officers and public health care nurses – they’d get calls and get information for people. All of these people could be contacted on a local basis.”
The Independent TD said he would “never apologise to anyone for making a representation on behalf of a person who needs help”.
I’m not sorry, I’ll raise that with the Health Minister if I have to. If it means I have to create a wreck about it to get an answer, so be it.
He said the argument that some TDs ask parliamentary questions about constituents’ medical cards in order to get votes is “bullshit”.
I will never, ever make an apology for representing people. I will go to the ends of the earth to help people. Do you think [the Government] would give a card back just if people wrote to them? Not in a million years. Not on your nelly.
Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea said he doesn’t usually ask parliamentary questions about medical cards, preferring to go directly to the HSE.
He said it was “most unfair” that people have to go to TDs to get answers.
“People are very confused and anxious about medical cards over the last 18 months … The amount of questions has risen because there is so much pressure on the ground.”
O’Dea said he deals with medical card queries on a weekly basis and has “rarely come across an undeserving case”.
People come to you and they have a bad story that will evoke your sympathy. The vast majority of the time, I’m glad to make the case because they’re clearly in need.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health told us that the determination of an individual’s eligibility for a medical card is the statutory responsibility of the HSE.
“Under the legislation, there is no role for the Minister for Health in assessing an individual’s medical card eligibility and, therefore, queries are referred to the HSE for direct reply.
“The HSE established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas, specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards. Deputies are reminded of this facility in the Minister’s replies and of the option to use it for an earlier response.”
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I think everyone should get a booster, possibly monthly and it should be mandatory. No booster and you’re not allowed to partake in society like normal rule following people. There should be fines introduced too if you don’t get boosters, perhaps taken from your bank account automatically every month you remain unvaccinated. If that’s not enough of an incentive to do the right thing, take a percentage of their homes value. Maybe some sort of digital chip and points system could be something we look at also in Ireland, it would be perfect to show the world how progressive and liberal we are, how cool we are. We were the words best at getting vaccines and even the EU president and Pfizer CEO told us how special we were, we can do it again. Let’s go Ireland, we got this, so proud to be Irish
@The ghost of Ireland’s past: the seasonal seasonal flu shot isn’t controversial, so why get upset about a seasonal Covid-19 shot?
@David Jordan: simple as that eh… There will be no coercion?
@The ghost of Ireland’s past: you are joking? Right?
@Ali123: “The ghost…” is just trying to stir up outrage.
That sort of thing goes down well with the easily manipulated.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: easily manipulated….oh you mean people who actually think for themselves!
You just follow the science cause the so called experts have never been wrong before & believe everything you read!
@The ghost of Ireland’s past: im unvaxed, rest of family vaxed and boosted, they gave me covid last year but it affected them worse, il stick to leas random chemicals injected into me
@he didnt take the 120k because he already got it s: what are the ingredients in the covid vax and how do they work, and which spicific ingredients do you have an issue with and why? Should be easy questions for you to answer since, you know, you think for yourself.
@David Jordan: you use to be hovering over covid articles shouting for extreme restrictions for unvaccinated in a militant like obsessive compulsive disorder,I’d say your only salivating for the daily numbers to be brought back out etc so you could start raging against people again…must be difficult for you that they are not targeting the general public for vaccination but only the vulnerable and elderly,gonna have to focus your hate on unvaccinated old people now
@damien leen: You describe those who take their “scientific” knowledge from conspiracy theorists as “people who actually think for themselves”?
Such people are not even thinking, never mind thinking for themselves.
@The ghost of Ireland’s past: Is your real name Stephen Donnelly?
@Shane Doyle: I know it’s not nice to have your freedom curtailed, but not getting vaccinated was in most cases a choice, accordingly you have to accept the consequences of your decisions, not moan and whine when your freedom is curtailed because you choose that, but take responsibility for decisions that potentially affect yourself and others.
Indeed, at the time, when the Alpha variant was dominant, I showed that unvaccinated were far more likely to get infected and infect others, and keeping them out of indoor venues was prudent, a logically correct choice.
People also had the freedom not to get infected.
@David Jordan: I would phrase is more like “people also had the right not to be infected by the unvaccinated”
@David Jordan: I simply chose not to be coerced and I am proud of that fact and the fact vaccination is not been offered to general population justifies my stance and I sat outside restaurants without complaints..propoganda is powerful..honesty we were calling the first cases as people were getting sick after vaccination breakthroughs cases,why were we calling them breakthrough,simple because we were led to believe vaccination would curtail the pandemic,then the propoganda changed to ‘get it to stop you dying from covid’ ..and it doesn’t even do that..the power of the media
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: i dont know what the ingredients are which is exactly why im not taking it, it didnt stop anyone i know from getting covid, having same effects and non vaxxed, or from passing it on, it might work for some but not the entire population, your question tells me you have a very lonely braincell bouncin around up there
@David Jordan:
How about: let the germaphobe hypochondriac Branch Covidians stay at home and let everyone else live their lives?
@David Jordan:
Oh you forgot to mention the Polio vaccine, seatbelts, and use the terms “misinformation” and “disinformation” as well DJ.
@David Jordan:
Oh you forgot to mention the Polio jab, seatbelts, and use the terms “misinformation” and “disinformation” as well DJ.
@David Jordan
.
Work colleague of mine in his late 60′s was telling me he got the seasonal flu jab for the first time 4 or 5 years ago , and promptly contracted the worst dose of the flu in his life the next day, never again will he be fooled.
@David Jordan: DJ, the Americas have stopped sharing figures the (dr) WHO , so IT’S OVER!! their ordering you to please leave the stadium, they’re turning the lights off. Good lad
@The ghost of Ireland’s past:
“There should be fines if you don’t get boosters”
do you really believe that ?
Might it not be better to wait for the opinion of the world’s leading epidemiologist Bill Gates on this matter before making any decision on public health policy?
Surely that would be the scientific approach.
@Tommy Haze: if you have his 5G micro chip implanted in your system from your last vaccination, then you’ll be grand.
@Paul Furey:
5g is so last year
All about the 6g now surely
@Paul Furey: No, Mr. Furey – the spike protein mRNA from your last vaccination – which is STILL being transcribed by your own cells as we speak – is a much, much bigger and more realistic concern.
@Paul Furey:
project blue beam etc
If you feel sick take a test…if you’re sick stay at home…No more vaccines for people who dont won’t to take them, no more coercion & no more bloody masks.
@damien leen: Masking in a pandemic is just human decency.
Do you really care so little for others that you think you should have the right to spread potentially deadly viruses?
@damien leen: Masks are the difference between people like me being able to traverse society and not. I have an underlying health condition, one which Covid would play havoc with, and unfortunately the first vaccine made my health condition worse so I haven’t been allowed to proceed with vaccination, I equally can not get Covid and so I remain cocooning. To anyone who has the decency to wear masks in GP settings hospitals and pharmacies, thank you.
@I’m Far Right: Totally right. Face nappies for a virus???
Yeah totally pointless
@damien leen: Anyone who says/believes they were coerced is weak minded, and looking for someone to blame because they lack the courage of their convictions to make their own decisions. If someone says they were coerced into taking a vaccine which they legitimately believed would harm them, by the relatively minor consequences in comparison of having to eat outside/issues with international travel, i’d question the value that person puts in their own health.
@Setanta O’Toole:most of my work colleagues had zero interest in been vaccinated till their need for a holiday or longing for a meal out with the missus took over..so they were coerced into taking a vaccine because their social output was limited,but a lot won’t admit they we’re coerced..I wasn’t coerced into taking a vaccine that’s killed people and done very little to prevent covid
@I’m Far Right: Were any of these times I had colds – that we commonly call ‘flus, but are not – part of a pandemic, “I’m far right”?
@Shane Doyle: What you mean is that their “convictions” were really just intellectual laziness.
@Shane Doyle: fair play to you s
Shane. You excercised the free choice that was available to everyone.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: The evidence that masks have any impact whatsoever on transmission of an airborne virus is extremely shaky.
They don’t work; they never did.
@damien leen: believe it or not, I actually agree with most of what you say, except gor the use of masks….I’ve asked anti-maskers like you these questions before and they all refuse to answer.
1: What is your understanding of how masks work?
And if it happens that the anti-masker understands how they work correctly, which has never happened,
2 : So why are you so against them?;
@Joe x:
How masks work?
They don’t work; like using a chain link fence to keep out mosquitoes.
They just make you look like a germaphobe hypochondriac Branch Covidian dingus.
They are very bad for the environment, made in Chinese sweat shops, and very likely bad for you – breathing your own exhaust, having a manky rag on your face, and inhaling microplastics.
But if you want to wear them, be my guest.
@Jack Hughes: they keep the ‘exhaust’ in indefinitely, but don’t lessen anything coming in externally. How does that work?
Winter booster !! Well I’ll be taking that thank you very much. Did not enjoy contracting Covid last summer. Not one little bit.
@Brian McMahon: the Vaccine does not prevent you getting COVID though so unless you change your Life style you are just as likely to get COVID.
@Roy Dowling: The vaccine does make the consequences of catching Covid very much less, though, Roy.
It can be the difference between being a little under the weather or having a very nasty time of it.
The difference between having a nasty bout and being hospitalised.
The difference between being hospitalised and death.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: no side effects? or just very rare coincidences…..how rare though for say myocarditis, is it 1 in a million, or one in a hundred?
Depends which study you read, and if you have a creative reason for dismissing anecdotal evidence around you and in certain news outlets, eg climate, flu, loud whistle blowing, duvet shaking, cold showers, over training, ice baths, artificial sweetener, gardening, not enough masking, etc
……these are just some recent theories floated in press
I don’t see any evidence lives are being saved, normally you’d expect excess deaths to be negative after a pandemic right?
Anyway, despite the German health minister telling us 2 years ago by the end of winter you’ll either be vaxxed or dead, I am still neither.
@lumberjack: The excess deaths among US Republican supporters exceed those among US Democratic supporters.
The studies are there.
Look them up.
But you continue to pretend all you want; it’s Darwinian – nature’s way of culling the less able – but your choice.
@lumberjack: the incidence rate of myocarditis after vaccination is 22 – 39 per 100k. The incidence rate in unvaccinated people of the same age who contract covid is 50 – 64 per 100k.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: Where did I claim it didn’t. I simply stated the fact to the original commenter simply getting the vaccine will not prevent them getting COVID.
@Brian McMahon: my work colleague got COVID in and around the same time as I did. We had at the time the same two vax jabs.
I was more or less symptomless, he spent a few weeks in hospital and his family were told to prepare for the worst. The vaccine may help some, but not all. He went on the get the booster, I decided against.!
@Roy Dowling: And?
No vaccine prevents transmission.
Vaccines do reduce severity of illness, and transmission.
@Lorne Malvo: And?
What you seem to be saying is that he may well have died without the vaccine.
And he realises that.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: Can you read my mind? Everything in my post is factual. I am implying nothing.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: But why then, when the “vaccines” were first being pushed out, were we repeatedly told (Biden, Fauci, even the Amazing Professor Luke O’Shill) that these shots were 100% effective at preventing transmission?
Country getting a bit too tricky to run…Ah shur lock us up in our houses again, like misbehaving children, out of sight out of mind!
@damien leen:
when the epstein stuff got people asking questions .. i saw a comment on social media that it would take ww3 to deflect epstein and his associates then covid deflected it
The vaccines worked well the last time. More of it again please.
@kor kor: Lol
I fully support the right of each person to make the decision that is best for them and their family.
@Oh Mammy: But not the right to put others at risk, right?
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere:
How are you be at risk when you keep up to date with your vaccination schedule?
@Jack Hughes:
*How are you at risk when you keep up to date with your vaccination schedule?
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: Who is putting anyone at risk and how exactly?
Seriously stop with this nonsense it’s beyond comical now, whenever there’s even a slight increase its like they go nuts trying to sell the fear factor and vaccine again, I got 2 jabs and had covid about 4 times, complete scam, I won’t be getting anymore jabs, fool me once…
@retro sun: maybe spent time researching how vaccines work at the population level and less time showing everyone that you don’t understand this.
@retro sun: That’s like someone getting knocked down by a car and saying they’re never wearing a seat belt again.
@Gareth:
No it isn’t. How does a seat belt help someone if they get knocked down by a car?
Are they walking around strapped to a seat?
@Gareth: No, it’s definitely not.
@Ciaran Foster:
They said they got jabbed and still got Convid 4 times – why do they need to research how vaccines work at the population level?
Never fear though .. we’ll all be in this together eh Leo ..as you flaunt the covid restrictions and you and your cronies give each other wage increases. G3t fu(k3d
@damien leen: Leo is truly awesome
Two COVID articles. Must be getting bored with Ukraine so back to the old reliable.
@Niall English:
Brexit then there was Covid 19 then there was Ukraine
Hahahahahahaha….. In other words, more flu. The inventer of the pcr test said it can’t detect covid. Amazing how the flu completely disappeared in 2020 but covid apparently spread like wildfire. I wonder how many people will the HSE kill this winter.
What a farce.
If the covid vax just suppresses symptoms, the vaxxed are more likely to spread covid as they’re less likely to know that they have it in the first place.
@I’m Far Right: maybe, if they go around licking people.
@I’m Far Right: seriously though, its the symptoms that spread an illness, that is just how evolution works.
@I’m Far Right: The Covid vaccine prepares the immune system against Covid, so it has a head start, and can react more quickly to an infection.
Therefore the immune system is more capable of fighting the infection.
That makes the Covid infection less lethal.
With the immune systems fighting Covid earlier it also means that the amount of Covid in our bodies is less than its would otherwise be, it not being able to replicate freely as it would otherwise be able to do.
That means there is less Covid for us to breathe out, meaning that it is less transmissible.
These things are really basic, and require only a little logic – you know, that “thinking for ourselves” that those who seem to know so little whine so much about.
@I’m Far Right:
The Covid vack is wack and it don’t do jack, Mac!
The biggest medical scam of all time. Like the Swine Flu scam (2009) on steroids, even makes Theranos or lobotomies look viable.
21st century snake oil. Many millions of doses binned, AZ and JJ discontinued already, gigantic waste of tax money. A massive massive scam. You’ll see a lot of the regulators get top jobs at the drug companies now, a la Van-Tam. Journal dot ie and some of the commenters here even had their snouts in the trough.
Hahahhsjsjshsjhsjsjsjjsjjsjsjjshahshshshhshshshhs
Quick get to level 5, close the shops, schools, bars, get the 9 euro meal back to help, get the masks back, get the unelected NEPHT team back in place.
Action was needed years ago long before any of this covid crap. HSE is an image of RTE. Money wasted in management and quango roles at the cost of front line staff and resources. Covid is a been played up to as a scape goat for ineptitude and mismanagement of funds.
I’d love another lockdown. I’m exhausted.
@lWOk0fWf: C=-t.
One consequence of denialism has been the excessive deaths of those same people.
Which reduced the US Trump voting population, and contributed to Trump’s loss of the last election.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere:
hahaha what a moronic take.
Weekend at Bernies Biden got the most votes ever in a presidential election so surely that got McDonald Trump out, no?
Hopefully lots take this offer of the ‘safe and effective’ jab. Darwin at work.
I would be interested in seeing statistics on how many people changed their minds after the COVID-19 pandemic and decided not to receive any vaccines at all. I know numerous individuals who used to adhere to all recommended vaccination protocols, but now, due to their observations of the government’s and other officials’ responses during the pandemic, they are opting to refuse all vaccines. Including me.
Just recovering from it, day 5. 2 of the days I felt like 90 years old and just wanted to curl up. 3rd time having it and the worst symptoms. Much much worse than a cold.
@Joseph Gibbons:
If I were you, I would take plenty of vit C, vit D and ive rmectin if you can get it.
(Remember: if iver mectin actually didn’t work, the powers that be wouldn’t care if you took it or not.;)
i still wear a mask long after everyone else stopped wearing them
Am i afraid of covid 19
No I’m afraid of covid 20
you will do what you are told ss alway, Paddy.
None is safe until everyone is safe.
have your say