Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

They are being denied them. That is the point I am making. That is a key area that needs to be addressed because it is not working. Another man who came to me recently is on chemotherapy and had undergone surgery for bowel cancer. He cannot get a medical card. I know well that he is not a very wealthy man. He is on little more than a social welfare payment and an occupational pension but he cannot get a medical card. Means tests are carried out but there are many refusals on the grounds that the applicants have financial means.

Regardless of what may be said about our time in government, at least people who were receiving treatment for or recovering from cancer were granted medical cards on medical grounds. That is something the Minister has to address. He speaks about universal access to free GP care. That is fine, but in the meantime we cannot give medical cards to people. That is distasteful, to say the least.

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