Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government has heard the concerns raised in recent months, and they were raised in a more magnified way in the past few weeks. The economic recovery we are working very hard to achieve is succeeding and we need to continue with stable conditions to ensure the economy grows and that we get our people back to work. In that context we must protect the most vulnerable in society but as I said, the Government does not stand over a situation where medical cards are taken from very sick children. I have also committed that the relevant Ministers, the Minister, Deputy Reilly, and the Minister of State, Deputy White, will address all the issues that have been raised and come up with proposals shortly.

Deputy Adams is addressing the situation as if it was Sinn Féin policy that everybody in the country, regardless of means or illness, should get a medical card. Forty-two per cent have medical cards already, but we do not agree with the Deputy that everybody should get a medical card because the country simply cannot afford that. There must be eligibility for medical cards both on a means basis and an assessment of medical need.

We are trying to move to that position. In 2013, 100,000 additional medical cards were granted. There are approximately 2 million medical cards in circulation, which means that there are now more in circulation than ever before. Some 42% of the population have a medical card. During the review of medical cards, 3.6% of 79,000 people lost their medical card. That is the position. I know there are hard cases and some dreadful ones have been pointed out to all of us. The HSE will be told that the withdrawal of medical cards from sick children is no longer an acceptable option.

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