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

We can debate this forevermore, but there are now fewer discretionary medical cards out there than was previously the case. At one stage, 80,000 medical cards were given out on a discretionary basis, but that is now down to 59,000. Clearly, there has been a tightening of the discretionary award. I believe this is purely a budgetary exercise, because the fact is that these were given to the sickest people in our society. The HSE has decided to withdraw them as a cost saving measure because they are the medical cards that are most expensive to the State. It is a cynical exercise and we see it time and again. Deputies from all sides are inundated in their offices every week by people who are very ill. One example is a person with motor neuron disease and a child with Down's syndrome and other complications who had a medical card that has been withdrawn. That is happening wholesale and the Minister of State cannot deny it. The pretence that there has been no change in the awarding of discretionary medical cards is quiet bizarre. It is unacceptable that the Members opposite pretend there has been no change. There has been no change. Discretion is being used and they are deciding not to grant the cards.

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