James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The scheme continues to operate in such a way that those who suffer genuine financial hardship as a result of a medical condition receive the benefit of a medical card. As I have said, there are now more people covered by the medical card scheme - both for medical cards and GP visit cards - than at any other time in the history of the State. Deputy Kelleher may not have said so, but his colleague did. Even though I could see him, I did not see Deputy Kelleher so perhaps the latter did not hear him.

I commend the Government amendment to the House. I reassure people that the medical card scheme has not changed in terms of eligibility for discretionary medical cards, and there is no intention for it to do so.

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