Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On Deputy McLellan’s fair question as to what constitutes undue hardship, it should be possible for Deputies, Senators, the press and citizens to be able to have regard for the guidelines so as to know what is being done. They are on the HSE website. The guidelines go through the issue of financial means and the various different tests. It is complex but it goes through it in a reasonably digestible fashion. It also deals with the discretionary aspect. This is difficult because a discretionary medical card can be awarded on the basis of an illness. It can be awarded on the basis where an illness has an impact on one’s financial situation. It is not whether or to what extent the person is ill. It is whether or to what extent that illness impacts on the person's financial situation. There is a big difference between the two. It sounds harsh but I am trying to clarify the specifics. The relevance of the illness for the purpose of a medical card is whether the illness impacts on one's financial situation. These guidelines are on the website and they bear reading but I am sure they could be clarified further. No process is perfect, which I am sure Mr. Burke would accept. The guidelines are reasonably clear.