Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Hoey for the presentation. According to the report, "Eligibility granted to applicants certified clinically as being terminally ill is no longer subject to an eligibility review". I have come across cases where to my surprise applications were refused. I accept that people were over the qualifying criteria, people aged over 70. The same discretion does not seem to have been applied. In two or three cases the application was refused and a GP only card was issued. In one case there were reports from four consultants indicating that this person had serious medical difficulties. It is great to be able to talk to someone in the unit but we do not get to talk to the person who makes the final call. I am concerned about how decisions are arrived at. I know of two or three cases which should have got over the line. In one case, the person has died since. I made the call six months ago and all my information was correct but the person was refused a medical card. Can Ms Hoey clarify how the call is made and what discretion there is to make it?