As with many Deputies, a large amount of work in my office involves dealing with medical cards and people who are struggling to get a medical card approved or have a decision on appeal. As we are halfway through our budgetary year cycle, I ask that in the autumn the Government consider providing that when someone has a cancer diagnosis he or she will automatically qualify for a medical card. There must be no ifs or buts. I often have to ask individuals who are already distraught and stressed to the gills to get for additional information. They are suffering enough with cancer. It should be a bottom-line requirement that they need a medical card and that the Government would have the goodwill to give them one.

As the Deputy knows, the ongoing consistent position over the years has been income based with different categories - over-70 and below-70 - and there has been particular provision for those with a terminal illness. One concern in terms of taking a one-disease approach is the question of what about other chronic diseases. A number of Deputies have articulated on behalf of cancer patients. The Minister for Health will examine that prior to the next budget but there is then an issue in terms of parity with other chronic diseases from which people suffer. In health, there are many complexities around issues such as this.