Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, at the end of the day we are going around in circles. The substance of this is very simple. The public does not want a situation whereby medical cards are withdrawn. From now on, there will be very simple rules. No one gets their medical card withdrawn without being written to and told their card is being withdrawn. We are trying to be helpful here. I will not let an application form for a medical card go from my office to the HSE without it being scanned as I cannot take the risk of it being lost, which invariably happens. Many of these applicants are elderly and sick.

Why does the HSE have a system of review when only 4% of medical cards are withdrawn in the end? It should be the same as the rule with Revenue. One chases the people that owe money while leaving law-abiding citizens go about their business.