I have been here for the entire debate. I have heard from the Minister and from all sides of the House. I accept the Minister's explanation that there was a private service, that some pharmacists were giving out a free service and that others were charging to the Government with an incorrect charging rate. I accept all of that. However, what she has told the House is an indictment of the Government. It knew this was happening back in September, when it went into negotiations with the pharmacy union. The Government knew the issues with blister pack charges. We are all TDs and we are all dealing with constituents day in and day out. I defy anyone in this House to say it was not known how blister packs were being distributed. The Government decided to go back into negotiations, get this done and save itself a couple of bob. My God, it could find €125 million for Ukraine the other day, just like that and no problem whatsoever, but it cannot find the money to support people with medications. Blister packs are vital for anybody who is elderly. If we ask people in the ambulance service, they will say that when they go into somebody's house and that person is unconscious, they will check the blister packs to see what medication the person is taking. They can make the right decisions on that basis. Blister packs are essential for those who want to live independently in their home. They are essential for the carers who look after people. The Minister wants to take the blister packs off them. She also says she is going to have an investigation. By God, the Government is brilliant at investigations. It is brilliant at drawing them out forever and ever. The Taoiseach wrings his hands every now and again and he will stand in this House and say we must learn from our mistakes. The Minister is making another mistake by getting rid of this. It is an absolute disgrace. The excuse coming from the senior Minister was cold and harsh and did not give a damn. She does not give a tuppenny curse for what is going on with the people of this State. They do not give a damn about it. The proof of that is the empty Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael benches today.

Sentiment score: 0.11