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

Yesterday, the Government’s statement on medical cards referred to interaction with the Attorney General on the Health Act 1970. The director general of the Health Service Executive, HSE, is satisfied the announcement will allow him to return cards to persons with an acute medical condition. The Minister of State, Deputy White, made it clear that legislation would be needed for the provision of discretionary medical cards to those with acute conditions. He based that on a new interpretation that arose over the past year or two that a card could be only allocated due to financial hardship. Magician-like, that interpretation has been waived and put to one side, for which I am glad, and 15,000 people will get back their discretionary medical cards. However, in the meantime, there is another 15,000 in limbo.

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