An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-11
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Sarah O'Reilly (AON), Agricultural Panel

The recent budget offered pensioners a €10 increase in their old age pension, but this minor increase has been totally wiped out by the decision to remove State funding for medical blister packs. Pensioners will now have to pay around €50 a month to get their medical blister packs. It is a fantastic device because it divides up medication and helps to avoid any confusion. It simplifies taking tablets for people who are taking multiple types of medication. Ireland is increasingly beginning to feel like no country for older men. People who have worked hard, contributed for years to the State and are already struggling to make ends meet find this decision to cut funding incredibly disheartening. I encourage the Government to review this decision. I cannot understand why it would pull funding from a much-needed and much-appreciated service that supports our most vulnerable people.
I wish the best of luck to the Knockbride ladies' intermediate Gaelic football team. They are going to Croke Park this Saturday to meet a Galway team in the all-Ireland club championship final. If you knew Knockbride, it is a tiny parish in rural Cavan. All there is is a shop, a church and a pub. It is a small parish with a huge heart. The team will be stepping out for their county and their club at Croke Park on Saturday and I wish them the very best of luck. I also recognise their sponsors. In a small parish like this, it is usually the local businesses and they do great work in supporting local teams. I wish them the best of luck.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-11/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:27+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-11