Living with Autism

MeetDeputy Joe Behan Independent TD for Wicklow I don't often get local in this blog as I prefer to keep at least a semblance of anonymity, but tonight I am inspired to post on the actions of a man with a conscience. Our member of parliament (or TD as we call them an gailge) for the county I live in, has resigned from the ruling coalition party this evening. He will continue to stand, but as an Independent that our coalition government has to "court" in order to secure his vote. The straw that broke Deputy Joe''s resolve was a decision this week to remove medical cards from the over 70's in our budget. Older people who would have gone to the doctor to have a cold checked out and treated, will have to think twice and perhaps then develop pneumonia, end up in hospital and then be too frail to be discharged to care for themselves at home. Thus taking up a hospital bed that an acute patient waiting on a trolley in the emergency room would need. An acute patient who ma…