Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The decisions that have been highlighted by various Deputies, and validly so, are cases in point of where we as the Oireachtas, working with the HSE, have to focus on the discretionary elements where these apply. The policy situation in so far as cards are concerned is that discretion applies where there is financial difficulty arising from a person having to cope with a medical challenge or whatever. Various degrees of assistance are given. The service plan produced last year indicated the change in guidelines in respect of the over 70s and obviously that has been carried through.

I want Deputy Healy to understand that the scaremongering that every person in the country is likely to lose a medical card is absolutely nonsensical.

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