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Wed 10 Oct 2008Government backs down on medical cards and 1% levy
A BADLY-SHAKEN Government yesterday amended two key elements of the Budget in the face of a backbench revolt, serious tension between the coalition parties and widespread public anger at the decision to abolish the over-70s medical card scheme.
The Budget measure abolishing the medical card for the over-70s was changed significantly to allow 95 per cent of those with cards to retain them, while the 1 per cent income levy was amended to exempt those earning the minimum wage of €17,542 a year.
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