I support Senator Hildegarde Naughton's call for a debate on the horrific discovery of a mass grave in Tuam where it is believed up to 800 babies and young children were buried in a septic tank.

I also refer to the Government's recent announcement that the review of discretionary medical cards will be suspended pending the establishment of a new expert panel and the development of a policy framework that will take medical conditions into account. This is something for which I have been calling. I raised the issue as recently as last week and wholeheartedly welcome the Government's decision to step back and examine the process. Even though it has taken a long time for the announcement to be made, I am pleased that we will now see action on the matter. I have spoken to numerous individuals and families about this issue. I have been shocked by some of the cases in which a medical card has been removed. We need clear and comprehensive guidelines under which HSE medical card staff can operate when making decisions. We also need clarity for the many people who have had their discretionary medical cards revoked in recent months. There have been umpteen interviews and media reports in the past 24 hours, in particular. Many representatives of the health and political sectors have stated different positions on the restoration of medical cards. There is a high level of uncertainty and there are reports on children and individuals having their medical cards returned after making their cases known publicly-----

The Senator voted for the measure in the budget.

Senator Mary Moran to continue, without interruption.

I never interrupt Senator Darragh O'Brien. This is the third occasion on which he has interrupted me on the Order of Business.

I am just reminding the Senator that she voted for the removal of medical cards.

I ask that the Senator not interrupt me when I am trying to make a point.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

She voted for the removal of medical cards.

I ask the Senator to desist. I would like to raise the point-----

I am just trying to set the record straight.

Does Senator Mary Moran have a question for the Leader?

Yes, but I would like time and to have an opportunity to make my point.

The Senator is out of time.

I can thank Senator Darragh O'Brien for that. I would like to raise the point that individuals with conditions that have no name or require a difficult diagnosis should not be left out of the process. Just because an individual does not fit in a box, as is often the case with rare or unnamed medical conditions, he or she should not lose a medical card. Preference should be shown in this process. We need equality and clarity across the medical card issuance process.

The Senator is way over time.

I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Health to address this urgent matter in the House at the earliest opportunity.

The Senator should not have voted for the measure.