Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This week, the parents of seriously ill children launched a new statewide campaign, Our Children's Health, to protect their medical cards. In response, the Government's newly appointed Minister for Children and Youth affairs, Deputy Charles Flanagan, stated: "I would hope that everybody who needs a medical card in this country [mar dhea] would have one." He needs to do much more than hope. First, everyone who needs a medical card does not have one. The Minister for Health and everyone else knows this. Second, this type of response, which is indicative of a dysfunctional Government, is causing serious distress to many citizens. It is pathetic and completely unacceptable. The Government, from the Taoiseach downwards, is denying its role in creating and sustaining this crisis. However, it has been brought to its attention time out of number by Opposition parties here in the Dáil, as well as by Labour Party and Fine Gael backbenchers. Incidentally, where is the Labour Party tonight? The test of those backbenchers will be how they vote on this motion later.

In case the Minister is in any doubt in this regard, the HSE's national director of primary care, Mr. John Hennessy, has acknowledged the reality. He has stated the removal of discretionary medical cards from some patients has been indefensible. He has stated it is causing unnecessary levels of anxiety and frustration for families, particularly those families dealing with serious disability. Moreover, the root of the scandal is the willingness and indeed the eagerness of the Government and the Minister for Health to allow seriously ill and vulnerable citizens to be targeted in a money-saving exercise. Access to medical card cover is subject to a means test instead of medical need and that is wrong. Mr. Hennessy has argued that the renewal process in certain cases involving profound disability requires a far more integrated process in a way that ensures all entitlements and health service supports, particularly non-means tested services such as supplies of medicines, equipment and other support services, are maximised.

As Members debate these issues with the Minister, families are dealing with serious illness and disabilities in their homes. Their burden is being added to by the decisions the Minister is taking. For example, Ms Mary O’Kane from Laytown is 86 years of age and is living alone. Her medical card was withdrawn following self-assessment. There is no way of checking whether elderly citizens such as Ms O'Kane ticked the incorrect income boxes on their forms and lost their cards as a result. Lily Redmond from Grange Rath, Drogheda, has been diagnosed with Down's syndrome and has food aversion issues. She has attended a range of specialists and therapists. She has never eaten solid food and can only ingest fluids. She is yet to walk and still goes about on her bum. Lily’s parents only discovered her medical card was withdrawn following a GP visit. Eve North, a 12 year old girl from the same locality, also had her medical card taken. Ms Pamela Donnelly from Julianstown has sleep apnoea, which requires the use of a continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP, machine. Although she is under GP and hospital care, Ms Donnelly's full medical card was withdrawn following a review citing income in excess of guidelines. However, a GP-visit card does not cover the cost of the CPAP machine, which is €111 per month, and as a result, she has had no machine as of January 2014. Another citizen from Bettystown, whose name I will not give, has cancer. He has undergone surgery and chemotherapy and still is attending hospital for follow-up. He requires a colostomy bag daily. His medical card was withdrawn because he exceeded the income limit. However, he cannot afford to provide his own colostomy bags. Sin an scéal.

These families across this State, have no one, apart from their families, who are providing them with solidarity. No one from the State is wrapping their arms around them. They feel isolated, afraid and confused. They are particularly affronted by what the Minister and the Taoiseach say in this Chamber. The Government amendment to the Sinn Féin motion is insulting. It asserts that the assessment of medical cards is facilitated in a consistent and equitable manner. The Minister does not know what "equitable" means. The amendment also states there has been no change and ends in an ego trip. There is a commendation for the Minister for Health in the name of the Minister for Health. That says it all.

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