Kenny defends medical card cut

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is under pressure to reverse a cull of medical cards amid accusations that the budget targeted the elderly and most vulnerable.

Mr Kenny defended the budget and said there had been no difference to the eligibility criteria for medical cards, but that it was up to card-holders to voluntarily return cards if circumstances changed.

“Some people have died, some cards are redundant because people’s incomes have changed and they have moved up, some people are migrant workers who have returned to their own countries, and others are not eligible for one reason or another.”