SEANAD REPORT:THE BILL to introduce new arrangements for medical cards for the over-70s was passed in the Seanad yesterday by 27 votes to 15.
The Minister of State with responsibility for older people Máire Hoctor said the Government was not prepared "to return to a situation where a group of people of whatever age would have the medical card without reference to their means".
Ms Hoctor made her comments following a suggestion by Senator Joe O'Toole (Ind) that medical cards be guaranteed to those aged 80 and over regardless of their means.
She told the House that the €927 fee remained in place for GPs who attended to people in nursing homes or in long-stay care.
Frances Fitzgerald, Fine Gael leader in the House, complained that the Government wanted to rush the Bill through the House because it was unjust.
Phil Prendergast (Lab) condemned the Bill as a document that let loose the Government's plan for making pensioners pay for its economic mismanagement.
Maria Corrigan (FF) said that the country was facing severe economic challenges. "In these circumstances it behoves us to find ways to save to ensure that our limited amount of money is spent where it is most required."
Fiona O'Malley (PD) accused the Opposition of having whipped up a hysteria among the elderly over the medical card issue. She had not heard Fine Gael say they would reverse the decision.
Ms Fitzgerald: "We said we will."
David Norris (Ind) said that when he listened to people on the Government side talking about protecting the vulnerable and the weak, he wondered how they could dare to engage in such bare-faced hypocrisy, following the Budget and the destruction of the Combat Poverty Agency and the Equality Authority.