Discretionary medical cards
Micheál Martin sought legislation and a timetable to restore discretionary medical cards for people with acute medical conditions. The Taoiseach said cards removed administratively would be restored administratively, prompting Martin to accuse him of giving a dishonest answer.
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 are another 15,000 in limbo.
Comment on this
The statement mentions the establishment of an expert panel to advise on the broader issue by September. The promise was that there would be legislation before the summer to deal once and for all with medical needs and conditionality in the awarding of discretionary medical cards. Will such legislation be provided? What timeline is the Government offering in the enactment of such legislation to provide for the awarding of discretionary medical cards to people with acute medical condition or has the Government resiled from providing any such legislation?
With the recent revelations about mother and baby homes, there is a significant issue around adoption and the adoption (tracing and information) Bill and people’s rights to tracing and access information to medical histories and so forth. When can we expect that legislation?
Comment on this
There have quite a number of queries about the legal and constitutional positions arising from the adoption process. We have had discussions about this before and it is quite complex. The Bill is expected before the end of the year and discussions are well under way.
With regard to medical cards, the law still stands from 1970. The cards were removed on an administrative basis and will be returned on an administrative basis.
Comment on this
That is not the truth. That is a dishonest response.