The Labour party has vowed to step up it's opposition to the Government's plans to remove the automatic entitlement to a medical card for the over 70s.
A new means testing regime will begin in January to determine eligibility.
The Health Bill which has been published by the Government is expected to come before the Dáil next week.
Labour's Health spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan has said that her party will fight, “tooth and nail” to retain universal availability.