The Health Service Executive (HSE) has admitted to TDs on the Oireachtas Health Committee that they have not communicated well with some medical card holders.

A group of cross-party TDs met with HSE staff at the medical card centre earlier to discuss ongoing problems with the system.

43% of the population has either a medical card or a GP-only card.

Among the issues that were expected to be discussed were whether some of the processing of medical cards has been outsourced to a Dublin-based German company, delays in the processing of new applications, the review processes, the reduction in the number of discretionary medical cards being issued and cards for those over-70.

The issue was debated for a second night in the Dáil last night, during a Sinn Féin motion calling for cuts to discretionary medical cards to be reversed.

Waterford TD Ciara Conway, who is vice-chair of the health committee, says people who have lost their medical cards need to know they still have access to vital services.

Earlier, the head of the Oireachtas Health Committee Jerry Buttimer said it is important that people are treated with compassion.