PROTESTS:OVER 2,000 people marched through Cork city centre on Saturday afternoon to protest at the decision to abolish the automatic right to a medical card for people over 70.
The march was organised by the Campaign for a Real Public Health Service in Cork, which has been vocal in its opposition to reported cutbacks at Mercy Hospital.
There were also smaller protests on Saturday outside the constituency office in Limerick of Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea, and in Dublin outside the constituency office of Minister for Health Mary Harney.
Marchers in Cork carried placards bearing the words "Shame, Shame, Shame on Fianna Fáil" as they made their way down the main thoroughfare in Cork city centre shortly after 3pm on Saturday.
Protesters were addressed by local Socialist Party councillor Mick Barry, the chairman of the Campaign for a Real Public Health Service Jim Cronin, and Kevin Doyle of the Workers' Solidarity Party.
Campaigners have vowed to repeat the march next Saturday if the row over cards has not been resolved to their satisfaction.
Mr Cronin said the row had caused untold stress on elderly people.
"There are 140,000 people today worried to death that their medical cards are going to be taken off them. A thing like that alone could kill elderly people. The worry alone and the stress of the situation.
"So we are telling the Government to back off and go another way about getting your money. Get the money off property developers. And let the people alone."