Minister for Health Mary Harney must explain why 200,000 health cards that provide free visits to GPs have still not been issued, the Labour Party said today.
The GP cards, which allow the free GP visits for people who do not qualify for full medical cards, were first unveiled by the Tánaiste last December.
Labour health spokeswoman Liz McManus
But Labour health spokeswoman Liz McManus today said the introduction of the cards had been repeatedly delayed, in part because of a failure by Ms Harney to resolve disputes with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO).
She said there was still no sign of the cards and no date set for when they might become available.
Ms McManus said she did not think the GP cards were an adequate substitute for full medical cards but would provide some financial relief for low income families.
"Prescriptions can be as expensive - or more expensive - than visits to a doctor, and there are other services and facilities available to those with full medical cards, that those with GP only cards will now have to pay for," she said.
"However, I do recognise that the GP cards will provide some modest level of relief for low income families and the failure of the Tánaiste to honour the commitment is another significant failure in her first year of office.
"I am also very concerned that none of the 30,000 additional `full' medical cards also promised by the Tánaiste last November appear to have been issued."
Ms McManus said despite the Ms Harney's promise, the number of people with full medical cards was on the decline, with 105,000 fewer people with a medical card than when the Government came to power in 1997.