David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government likes to pretend these things do not happen but the reality is different. All of us deal with this day in, day out - my party certainly does. If the Minister of State is not doing so there is something seriously wrong. The reality is that it is much more difficult than ever before to get a card on medical or hardship grounds. I deal with many families, day in, day out, week in, week out, who are having their applications for medical cards turned down. This happens all the time. If they go to appeal it takes a very long time for a decision to be made and often it is just not the right decision. That is a fact of life for many people. Although Labour Party Senators may shake their heads and deny this is reality it is reality and absolutely the case for families.