Enda Kenny criticised as two seriously-ill children denied medical cards

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been accused of reneging on a promise to bring commonsense back to the awarding of discretionary medical cards.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin made the accusation as he said a nine-year-old girl with a rare cancer and an 18-month-old boy, with Down syndrome and a significant cardiac problem, had been denied help. He contrasted the cases with plans to give free GP care to all children under six, regardless of health issues.

Mr Martin said immense strain was being put on families, both emotionally and financially, by arbitrary decisions of the HSE.