Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Over the past 18 months, when the issue of discretionary medical cards was raised and the removal of discretionary medical cards from very sick people was being highlighted in this House and throughout the country, there was a denial in Government that there was any change in policy. Whether there has been a change in policy or in practice, there has been a change because people are having their discretionary medical cards removed on a continual basis. The figures and statistics are there and more than 30,000 discretionary medical cards have been removed over the past number of years.

The Joint Committee on Health and Children is in the medical card centre in Finglas today observing how discretionary medical cards and other medical cards are assessed.

See this speech in context