Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps the system should retain information because many of us in this room have heard from people with serious illnesses, be they transplant patients or people with chronic illness or cancer, and families of children with Down's syndrome who have had medical cards removed or up for review and have been questioned. I would make the point that the system should have that capacity. To be fair, when one does engage with staff in the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, PCRS, they are very fair-minded and genuine people but perhaps the system should be changed. I have made the point here and to the Minister and Minister for State that we need to look at the issue of transplant patients or people with Down's syndrome so that they do not have go through the rigmarole all the time. I know the Minister of State can quote the Act but the reality is, and I would be wrong to say otherwise, that there are people with Down's syndrome and transplant patients who have had their medical cards taken away.