The Minister for Finance has defended the government's review of medical cards.
Michael Noonan says the medical card system has become too expensive for the state to afford - and that some cards simply must be cut.
He's been criticised in the Dail this afternoon for mentioning a possible U-turn on medical cards before the election - without giving any further details.
But Minister Noonan - who's deputising for Enda Kenny - says the country simply cannot afford the number of cards currently issued:
