Fury over Howlin’s medical card remark

Families of children with Down’s syndrome have expressed anger at the Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin, who questioned if they should be entitled to medical cards if they are “very wealthy”.

The mother of one girl who will lose her discretionary medical card this week said his comments did not make sense given that the Coalition has announced it will provide free GP visit cards to all children under six — regardless of their wealth.

Mr Howlin was asked on RTÉ Radio about whether the Government considered focusing resources at the most vulnerable, such as children with Down’s syndrome, rather than providing free doctor care to all children under six.