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Families of women affected by Cervical Check are set to have their free medical cards extended

Tuesday, 2 March 2021 06:48

The cards had been due to expire in May. 

It's one of a number of items on the agenda for cabinet Ministers this morning.

Along with the usual weekly update on COVID-19 Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will seek approval from his Ministerial colleagues to extend the medical cards offered to the families and dependents of the women impacted by the Cervical Check scandal.

Just under 1,100 dependents have medical cards issued in 2018 due to expire in May - which will be extended for another 3 years.

They were issued as part of a package of supports for the women and their families.

Cards held by the women themselves have no expiry date.

Separately the Justice Minister Helen McEntee will give the cabinet an update on the riots in Dublin at the weekend as Gardaí call for more support to deal with such events.

The Minister is also seeking approval to extend the visa-free travel ban from South Africa and all South American countries, which had been due to expire, with no definitive end date. 

It comes after the Seanad passed the legislation on mandatory hotel quarantine yesterday evening. 

Meanwhile the Taoiseach is bringing a memo to cabinet to establish a new Social Dialogue Unit which aims to bring various sectors of society together to rebuild after the pandemic. 

 

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