Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----but if the person has been unemployed since 1985 and has multiple issues, with other complications as well as cancer, and a card issued to the person involved until 2021 has now been withdrawn, there is a reason for somebody making this decision and we need to find this out. I have no doubt about the veracity of the case mentioned by the Deputy, and if the person has been out of work since 1985 because of medical complications, and has cancer and multiple issues which make life very challenging, I do not see why a decision was made to suddenly alter a previous decision made in good faith to issue the person with a medical card until 2021 when it would be reviewed. Medical cards have always been reviewed on an annual or biannual basis. Sometimes people moved away or passed on, and sometimes an ailment cleared up or the complication was such a medical card might never be required again but discretionary cards are a particular type of card and are issued to people with particular problems.

The Minister, Deputy Reilly, is as concerned as anybody else that those who deserve cards should have them. I do not suggest the person mentioned by Deputy Martin should not have a card but we will investigate this case and I would like to see the results of the inquiry myself.

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