Updated 13.00

The Minister for Health says the Cabinet gave him the figure of €113 million worth of savings to achieve from a review of medical cards.

However, so far James Reilly has been unable to say how many people will lose their cards as a result.

Minister Reilly has welcomed the fact that a team from the Department of Taoiseach and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will come into his Department to oversee spending - and says they are doing so at his invitiation.

He says anyone who is not legally entitled to a medical card shouldn't have one - and anyone who is legally entitled to one, should not worry.

Minister Reilly told The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk earlier that the final figures have to be validated during the review:

The Minister also said that the changes will make the medical card system more transparent:

The Minister for Health says he invited officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to come in and oversee spending in his Department.

James Reilly says it will allow everyone to see what the real figures are and what impact they have on the health service plan.

And he's denied that the introduction of the team from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform shows that he doesn't have faith in his own officials: