I call Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. These are questions on the programme for Government or promised legislation. It is not question time.

In the programme for Government, access to health care was promised for people who have illnesses.

When one applies for a medical card at present, it is only dated from the date it is granted. I am asking that a medical card be made effective from the day the person applies for it.

Those with serious illnesses, such as lyme disease, have to travel abroad to get their problems addressed and have to pay a savage cost. The Government indicated that more people will have access to medical cards. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that those with lyme disease are covered with a medical card because they are enduring savage costs going abroad because the medical care is not here for them.

On the same subject-----

Is the Deputy adding to it?

No. It is the same subject. There was a good system in place previously for those who were terminally ill who had medical cards. Unfortunately, in recent times that system has been failing. When a person has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, within 24 hours of a doctor declaring that it is a terminal illness that person should be issued with a medical card no questions asked.

Promised legislation.

It is part of this.

It does not mean that two wrongs make a right.

This is terribly important. I ask the Taoiseach respectfully, as a former Minister for Health who understands the enormity of this situation on a family, that when a person is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he or she should be granted a medical card immediately upon a medical practitioner signing off on that terminal illness.

I will certainly speak to the Minister for Health about that. As the Deputies will be aware, the Minister is currently launching the new cancer strategy. It is still supposed to be the case. Somebody who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and is dying is still supposed to receive a medical card automatically. I was not aware of any change in or any problems with regard to that. I have not come across it in my constituency in quite some time. I will certainly check with the Minister of Health if that is the case.

In relation to backdating medical cards, I am not sure if that can be done. It is the case for social welfare entitlements that one receives the payments in arrears from the point at which one is entitled, not the point at which one is allocated. I think that is what Deputy Michael Healy-Rae is suggesting. It sounds like a good idea. I am just not sure how practical it would be because it would involved presumably then refunding fees to doctors etc. and that could be difficult to administer.

In terms of treatment abroad, patients can apply for treatment abroad under the treatment abroad scheme from the HSE and can also avail of treatment abroad without a means test under the cross-border directive, but of course, it needs to be a recognised treatment.