Mr. Tony O'Brien:

Forgive me, I did not say their medical conditions had improved, disimproved or changed. I said that under the 1970 Act the fact that they had a medical condition did not, in and of itself, qualify them to receive a medical card. The medical card test is one of undue financial hardship and the costs associated with the medical condition clearly factor into the arithmetical assessment of their eligibility. The Comptroller and Auditor General, the Secretary General and I have laid this out. If it is the view of the committee that it would be better for people in these circumstances to qualify on the basis of medical conditions alone, that could only be given effect by a change in the legislation, not by a change in the administration of the scheme by the HSE. The HSE would not have a legal right to operate the scheme on the basis described.