Fianna Fáil has today called on the Government to abandon plans to change the medical card system.
Party leader and former Minister for Health Micheál Martin said that the Government is making a mess of the situation by trying to ensure that people with some conditions are guaranteed a card.
New Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said that he is not sure if it is possible to name a list of conditions which automatically get a card.
Deputy Martin said that there is no point changing a system that already worked.
"When you're talking about conditions - it was dealt with," he said.
"That's the point I am making - medical conditions was dealt with. But the Government meddled with it and messed it up.
"Because up to about two years ago, if you had a serious illness or condition, you got a medical card."