Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Pressure came on the medical card system and the ones that were focused on were the discretionary medical cards.

This issue was raised long before the elections. It was raised over two years ago. The Jack & Jill foundation is saying that in the past two years the policy became particularly vicious, and it deals with children with significant life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. It has been driven to the unprecedented step of writing very strong letters to the Taoiseach and to the Minister for Health. We got indications in recent weeks from the Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Noonan, and his colleague that changes would be made. Is the Minister now saying that has been long-fingered again and that that was only said in the past week or two to try to ease the pressure-----

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