Condemnation builds for medical card move

Mr Cowen said it unsustainable for the State to cover medical costs for every elderly person, but that he acknowledged the concerns from the public.

He appealed for time and space to adapt and modify the current proposal announced in last Tuesday’s Budget.

Age Action’s Eamon Timmins said the move will deprive many older people vital access to health care.

“It is as if the Government has not heard the people or its own backbenchers, and does not recognise the importance of the medical card for older people trying to gain access to essential community services,” said Mr Timmins.

The Taoiseach – who deferred a five-day trip to China from tomorrow until Tuesday night to deal with the backlash – vowed to find a solution that will address the concerns of people and still respect the parameters of the Budget arithmetic.

He told RTE’s 'This Week' radio programme that since the automatic entitlement was introduced in 2001, its cost has escalated considerably.

But Mr Cowen revealed the proposal announced in the budget would have to be changed as it did not have public approval.

“The present proposal, as we enunciated, it clearly is not the ultimate proposal that’s going to be decided upon because it does not merit or have the wider public acceptance that it would need to have,” said Mr Cowen.

“I’m addressing those concerns and I think that those that have that concern can be assured of that.

“Secondly... it was never the intention at any time to introduce this before the 1st January so we have time in which to come up with a creative solution which will address this issue to a greater extent than we’ve been able to do on the basis of the Budget as it is.”

Public representatives across the country have been inundated with calls from concerned residents since the Budget reforms were revealed.

Some Fianna Fáil backbenchers, government partners the Green Party and Independent TDs, opposition parties and social groups have all demanded a u-turn.

On Friday, Fianna Fáil Wicklow TD Joe Behan resigned from the party, while Independent TD Finian McGrath has threatened to withdraw his support for the Government if it continues with the plan.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil county councillors from around the country met in Ballinasloe today to debate the budget, and in particular the medical card issue.

Around 140,000 pensioners will receive forms to assess their new eligibility for the full medical card in the coming months.

Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny – whose party will bring a motion to the Dáil on Wednesday night on the issue – said Mr Cowen does not appreciate the level of hurt, confusion and anxiety being caused by the decision.

Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore accused the Taoiseach of attempting to buy time in the face of the unprecedented hostile reaction from the public and the mutiny among his own backbenchers.

“While some tinkering around with income limits may be sufficient to satisfy some of the more gullible government backbenchers, it won’t satisfy the public who simply want to see this plan scrapped,” he added.

Sinn Féin’s health spokesperson Caoimhghin O Caolain said the Taoiseach has succeeded only in sowing further confusion.

Age Action said the Taoiseach’s promised review must involve a comprehensive analysis of the savings generated by the over-70s card scheme, as well as its costs.

“While the government has only focussed on the cost implications of the scheme to date, it has failed to look at the hugely important contribution which the over-70s card has made to the public health services and to preventative health needs of older people,” Mr Timmins added.