John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I regret that Deputy John Paul Phelan has left the House because he referred to the medical card system. It might have been Fianna Fáil which stated we would have a national medical card application and appeals system; perhaps this was the case. However, the Government has been in office for 12 months and this is an administrative issue which affects the constituents we represent. There are examples of people who are terminally ill and cannot get their medical card renewed and therefore cannot access services.

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