Martin: Govt 'lying' about medical card issue
The leader of the main opposition party has accused the Government of lying over the medical card issue.
Fianna Fáil's Micháel Martin has rubbished claims by the Coalition that those who need medical cards will not lose them under cuts to be imposed on the scheme.
Savings of €113m are to be made through a review of all those in receipt of the benefit, with fears seriously ill people could lose their card.
Deputy Martin said the figures don't add up in accordance with Government claims.
He said: "The Minister will say there has never been an automatic entitlement to a medical card because of a condition, he would say. But no-one's ever said that.
"What everybody knows is that for decades there has been discretionary medical cards where people with chronic long-term illness, motor neurone or life-limiting illnesses got medical cards. That has changed.
"But the Government are denying there is any change and basically they are saying that anyone who is entitled to it on income grounds will keep it, now if that is the case then the figures can't stack up."
