Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this important motion. It is clear to anyone with an ounce of intelligence that there is a cynical campaign to reduce the number of discretionary medical cards. At the beginning of 2011, there were more than 80,524 discretionary medical cards, a figure that reduced to 63,126 by the end of 2012. This year has witnessed a further reduction.

Listening to Government Deputies last night as well as to the Minister of State a few moments ago, one would wonder in what type of parallel universe they were living. They believe that there has been no deliberate attempt to reduce the number of discretionary medical cards. Are they holding clinics at all or engaging with their constituents? The anecdotal evidence presented at my clinics and those of my colleagues tells of a deliberate attempt to withhold discretionary medical cards. This is not just being asserted by Deputies on this side of the House. Consider the comments of the outgoing Ombudsman, Ms Emily O'Reilly, in this regard. She stated that health cutbacks were being implemented by applying the letter of the law and removing an element of discretion that had previously applied. She is not only renowned in this country, but also on the European stage.

The Irish Cancer Society has cited concerns about the removal of medical cards from cancer patients. At an Oireachtas health committee in July, the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, confirmed that this was being done. Professor Orla Hardiman, the neurologist who deals with the most cases of motor neurone disease, rubbished claims that applicants were provided with emergency medical cards within 24 hours as being untrue.

I will provide examples from my area. I have tabled a parliamentary question on the case of a 13 year old boy. When he was diagnosed with autism at four years of age, he received a medical card. It was renewed every two years until August of this year when, despite there being no change in his medical condition - if anything it had worsened - or in his parents' financial position, something else that had worsened, his application was refused. That refusal is being appealed.

In the case of a one year old child who was diagnosed with cancer, three and a half months have been spent toing and froing with the medical card office to secure a card. What a thing to put that child's parents through. Are they not going through enough trying to look after their sick child without having to worry about the financial hardship that their family was incurring?

I am not pulling these cases from the sky. I can provide the Ministers of State with the details of each. A gentleman has been diagnosed with cancer for the third time. On the two previous occasions, he was awarded a discretionary medical card. He applied for a medical card in September 2012. On 23 November, his application was refused. He appealed and was further refused. He appealed again. He was refused again. After appealing once more, he was finally granted a card on 19 September 2013. For 12 months, a man who was critically, if not terminally, ill with cancer had to battle with an arm of the State to get his entitlement.

Do not come in here and tell me that there has been no change to the conditions applying to people who try to obtain discretionary medical cards. The clear tactic is to refuse and delay as much as possible. This is causing unnecessary anxiety and is having a severe negative impact on persons who are critically ill and cannot afford to suffer such anxiety and pressure.

I compliment Deputy Kelleher on introducing this important motion. For God's sake, will the Ministers of State and the Government take on board the fact that this is a real issue and take the foot off the drive to withhold discretionary medical cards? It is unfair, inhumane and beneath them.

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