Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am a former Minister for Health. Every Administration has issued medical cards on the basis of the 1970 Act. It was done on a local basis determined by ability to meet medical costs. There was always a local discretion. Medical cards have been centralised in recent times. That was a decision made by the previous Administration that has been carried out. One of the things that has come to light in that is the variety in terms of the exercise of that discretion. For example, in Cork 70% over the national average in terms of medical cards were given and in Meath 70% under the national average were given. That is not equitable or fair. We need to have a system that takes account of real hardship, that is compassionate and that understands that such cases, and Deputy Calleary has instanced another one today, are unacceptable and that people who are faced with that sort of medical need should be assisted by the State. That is why the Cabinet has decided to develop a policy framework to determine eligibility in a fair and open way-----

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