Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand the value of a medical card. Sometimes it is not a case of what it can provide but the security it represents in terms of a person not having to worry about medical expenses. People have enough things to worry about but when they have a medical card that is one less thing to worry about. I read the Irish Cancer Society's report on additional costs. Most costs relating to cancer treatment are met by the State whether or not one has a medical card because the treatment is in a hospital setting. That is right and proper and that is why we have such success in terms of treatments and outcomes. I hope Senator Moran's friend will have an equally good outcome. The security element of the medical card is really what it is about.

I accept there are additional costs for transport and being out of work. That is understandable when one has an illness that impacts as much as cancer. I also understand the security of not having that particular worry is essential in terms of how one faces the illness. We are taking another look at the case. Senator Moran is aware that I do not promise anything. The number of discretionary cards in the system is incredible, and rightly so because there are people who do not meet the criteria and probably never will but we must take other elements into consideration.