Speaking during Leaders Questions today – Seamus Healy claimed that the government's austerity budget this year had targeted withdrawal of 40 thousand medical cards from people nationwide and that his policy is now being implemented by the HSE.
The Tipperary Deputy went on to highlight recent cases of cards being withdrawn from some cancer patients and those with Motor Neuron Disease – and called on the Tánaiste to reverse this situation
However Eamon Gilmore insisted that there was no targeting of card holders, that the medical and financial needs of people are taken into account and that more medical cards had been issued under the current government than any other.
The Clonmel Deputy retorted that it wasn't a record to be proud of but the Tánaiste accused him of being more concerned with political point scoring.
