The cull of discretionary medical cards was "the most misguided political decision in years", according to the group representing seriously ill or disabled children who suffered as a result of card withdrawals.

The Government’s expert report into how the medical card system can be reformed is set to be handed to Health Minister Leo Varadkar by the end of this month.

Parents of seriously ill children still in limbo over the discretionary medical cards crisis are set to protest outside Leinster House during the first Cabinet meeting of the new Dáil term this Wednesday.

It will prove hard to create a ‘hierarchy of illnesses’, says Varadkar, tempering expectations of a quick fix, writes Political Editor Mary Regan

More than 15,000 people will have discretionary medical cards restored following a humiliating climbdown by the Government which admitted it could "not stand over" withdrawals which it denied had been taking place for more than a year.

The restoration of medical cards will be discussed by the Cabinet tomorrow after pledges by Health Minister James Reilly that cards for sick children would be reinstated within weeks.

Seriously ill children who have already lost their discretionary medical cards will die before the law is changed to help them, a leading charity has claimed.

Forget being wary of Greeks bearing gifts. They’re amateurs when compared to politicians bearing medical cards on the eve of an election, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.