Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach says the plan has been prepared and given to the Minister for Health, which is right. However, the Taoiseach avoided commenting on the new situation whereby his Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, along with the Minister for Health, have assumed responsibility for health spending. On top of all the other cuts we worry about, the Taoiseach has targeted €113 million of cuts to medical cards in 2014. That will result in thousands losing medical cards.

Kate McShane is a two-year-old with Down's syndrome, requiring heart surgery and long-term GP and hospital care. She has been denied a full medical card. When I brought this matter to the Taoiseach's attention he invited me to send details of this case and others to him, which I did. I did not get a reply from the Taoiseach but got one from the HSE. Most of the people were denied medical cards and only one had the decision reversed.

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