Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am putting a question on the programme for Government. The question that I tabled asks if the Taoiseach is concerned about possible delays in any commitments made in the programme for Government. One of the clear and explicit commitments given was that people with chronic, long-term illnesses would have access to medical cards but the opposite has been the case. Up and down the country people with long-term illnesses have lost their medical cards and are continuing to lose them. Ask any GP in the country and he or she will tell you that when patients attend, it is the GP who has to tell them that their cards have been withdrawn having looked up the patient files on their computers. What is going on is a shambles. It is unbelievably cruel to families and I do not know how the Taoiseach can stand over it. I have spent the last nine months in this House asking the Taoiseach questions about discretionary medical cards and about the behaviour of the authorities and the Department of Health but I have heard denial after denial. Despite what we heard before Christmas, I am shocked to see that it still going on. This random process through which medical cards are being taken from people is still going on. It is a scandal. It is cruel and shameful and is hitting those who need cards the most because of chronic and serious illnesses. These are the people whom the Government is hurting the most and I do not understand why the Government continues to do it.

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