Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin:

I would like to make it absolutely clear that there has been no policy change from my Department in respect to this matter. We are caught by the legal situation. In the earlier discussion, the Chairman raised issues that are now prudent and proper for the committee to take forward. The Government must make decisions on whether it wants to provide medical cards to people who have illness, as distinct from having regard to what is in the law at the present time. We must be clear about that. We are dealing with legislation and my Department must operate within the policy framework set by the Government, but there is no direction from my Department other than to facilitate people who need medical cards on hardship grounds-----