James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This scheme was always based on financial hardship and discretion was shown when people had complicated, multiple medical conditions resulting in financial hardship. The resolution to all this is to introduce free GP care for everybody and address the needs of people who have disabilities or lifelong conditions and meet those needs outside a medical card. It is often to do with appliances and other things. The medical card has become a passport to other services because means testing is not being done.