I also support the motion. I have received a number of emails from constituents in Dublin South-Central who are absolutely flabbergasted by this mean-spirted decision to charge vulnerable and elderly people for a pack that is life-saving to them. This is the antithesis of how this country should be supporting vulnerable people. The story of Scrooge will never be dead as long as things like this are decided, and so close to Christmas. The worry that elderly and vulnerable people and their families have now is how they are going to be able to afford this. I am not joking when I say this - I am not making this up at all - but there are people in my constituency in Dublin South-Central where this amount of money that they will have to pay is really going to put them in such a bad way. St. James's Hospital is a massive hospital, as I am sure the Minister is aware. It is my constituency. It services not only the people of Dublin South-Central but also people from around this country with acute care needs. It does an excellent job. What people who go into hospital want is to go home. Everybody wants to be at home, especially when they are unwell. The last place they want to be is in a hospital in unfamiliar surroundings. Therefore, to be at home really is of utmost importance and these blister packs are what allow people to be cared for in their homes for as long as that might be needed. If they cannot afford to do that, that pushes people out of the possibility of being able to stay in their home being cared for. It is just such an unnecessary cost. Of all the things the Minister could have charged people in this country for, this is the thing she chooses. I am literally flabbergasted that she would chose this. It is so mean and so unfair. The reality is that this is an important thing for people being cared for in their homes. I am getting emails from family members who are really worried about this. I will stop talking now but I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this motion forward.

Sentiment score: 0.11