Government is digging in its heels on issue of medical card compensation

Acknowledging just how cruel the medical card reviews had become, the Taoiseach described to the Dáil how people with motor neurone disease were "asked by the computer" to respond even though they "were unable to speak and move and therefore could not respond."

The decision to restore cards to 15,000 people was made “after listening to stories of the pressure that is on so many people” he said.

“Obviously these things should never have happened.”

His comments come almost a year after this newspaper first reported that motor neurone patients were having their cards withdrawn months into their illness, and enduring a tortuous process in their appeals. Despite his late acknowledgement that the system was “completely unacceptable” Enda Kenny is digging his heels in when it comes to compensating people for what this policy cost them.

“The minister was clear about the non-payment of compensation,” he said. Mr Kenny was referring to the statement by James Reilly that decisions to remove cards in the first place “were made legally under the law and properly and therefore there is no question of a refund being made”.

Based on the Government’s estimates that it will cost €13m a year to give the cards back, the annual cost for those who lost them is at least around €900. The costs reach €7,000 a year for children like Katie Connolly, 6, from Douglas in Cork.

For her, the worst thing about being without a medical card was that her parents had to choose between vital therapies that help children with Down Syndrome lead a more independent life — and visits to the doctor.

Her mother Jackie — one of many parents around the country who had battled for months against the “immoral” withdrawals — believes the Government has a lot to do to make amends.

“I don’t think the Government’s apology is good enough unless they compensate parents,” she said.

Noreen Keane from Limerick, who has been battling on behalf of her son Ronan Woodhouse, 8, agrees that if the Government “wants to right this wrong” then it should compensate those who were left out of pocked as a result of being without their cards.

For children with more profound disabilities like those helped by the Jack and Jill Foundation, medical costs typically run to about €1,000 a month, according to its founder, Jonathan Irwin. “For a sick baby, you have to be the Aga Khan. It is very expensive,” he said.

His message to the Government was that: “If you reinstate something you have to make good what those people have lost, otherwise it’s not a reinstatement,.”

Mr Irwin said the minister’s excuse is “ludicrous” and the Government can no longer hide behind legal speak. “Just reimburse the people and be big about it,” he said.