Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Unfortunately, he only told me that which I already know. He agreed with me that in the context of this policy development, the HSE suspended reviews - including appeals - of medical cards. Why was the review relating to the man in question not suspended? I accept the Minister of State's point to the effect that the Minister for Health has no input regarding an individual's eligibility for a medical card. However, he had a huge input when he announced that he was going to suspend that review and that discretionary medical cards would be reissued to people with medical conditions or disabilities. If we cannot obtain an answer from the PCRS, to whom should we turn if not the Minister for Health? Where should I go from here? Should I go to the Ombudsman if the Minister will not or cannot respond to my query? Surely someone in the PCRS could answer a question submitted by the Minister. I do not understand what is happening. In the meantime, the man in question who, as already stated, is paralysed from the shoulders down and who is confined to a motorised wheelchair, does not have a medical card. Where does he go from here?