Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Eligibility for medical cards has been somewhat fraught over the years and it becomes a political issue periodically but despite the review carried out by the HSE with the Department of Health, of all that were reviewed since budget time, 96.4% of those assessed continue to be eligible for medical cards, therefore, 3.6% of those reviewed lost their medical cards.

One of the reasons the economy is growing and people are going back to work again is that the Government has controlled public expenditure. When there is a big block of expenditure, such as €2 billion, on medical cards it is reasonable that would be the subject of a review. The review was carried out and 3.6% of those reviewed lost their medical cards, but Deputy Martin should not be sanctimonious about this issue. He promised a review of eligibility in 2001. He did not do it. He promised it again in 2002 but did not do it. He promised it again in 2003 but did not do it.

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