Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the number of people being refused medical cards or having them removed at a time when the Government is claiming to provide additional cards or at least doctor only cards. Each application has to be scrutinised by many different people who must justify their existence instead of leaving the decision regarding cards to the community welfare officers who interview the clients and in many cases know the unique situation of each individual or family over many years. Would the money spent on increased administration not be better utilised on the provision of medical cards to those in need especially in cases like cancer etc. where families are in trauma?

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