Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

We should try to be more sensible in dealing with this issue. Terminally ill patients still have to go through the wringer to get medical cards. Likewise, cancer patients have to give all their information to the HSE. It is not that the HSE wants to be bolshy about it, but it is covered by legislation which requires it make such people jump through a number of hoops to get a medical card.

A discretionary medical card is always issued for a limited period. There is a limit on the number of them that can be issued, but the number issued is way below that limit. Given that the impact of this legislation will be dramatic for the little savings that will accrue on foot of it in the long term, there is a possibility of the Government gaining some saving grace by being a bit more humane towards cancer patients and terminally ill patients.