Updated 07.45

The Health Minister James Reilly came under fire from a number of backbenchers at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting last night.

It comes as efforts get underway to restore medical cards to some people who had lost them as part of a controversial review process that has now been stopped.

There are also reports today that the Department of Health has been told to come up with plans to ensure everyone with serious illnesses gets a medical card.

Fionnán Sheahan, Group Political Editor at the Irish Independent, told Newstalk's Breakfast earlier that James Reilly appeared humble, earnest and honest at last night's meeting:

The Minister told the meeting there had been 'no political will' to deal with the issue of medical cards, until after recent elections.

And backbenchers heard they should have done more to press the issue if they knew about the public appetite for change.

Moving on

Fionnán Sheahan says James Reilly must now pursue examine how to get discretionary med cards back to those who have lost them, and he must draft options on giving med cards permanently to people with long-term illnesses, though the Department of Health said last year that wasn't possible.

Meanwhile, the Minister's future remains uncertain as control of the Department of Health is increasingly being taken by officials at Government Buildings, indicating the Taoiseach's unhappiness with affairs. However, Enda Kenny is understood to have great respect for James Reilly, even as party colleagues lose patience with his failures.