Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will provide clarification. The joint committee received figures showing that approximately 1,733,000 cards were in place on 1 January 2011 and as of 1 March 2014, this figure had increased to 1,951,000. These are accurate figures. In case there is any dispute, I fully accept that general practitioners have done a major job, far beyond the call of duty, in assisting people who seek to retain medical cards. When I contact GPs they are extremely helpful. They have fought cases hard and do a fantastic job. They should not have to do this work and I fully accept Dr. Duffy's comments in that regard.