Opposition parties call for reversal of medical card decision

Opposition parties have been quick to criticise the Taoiseach today over his attempts to resolve the medical card crisis.

Opposition parties have been quick to criticise the Taoiseach today over his attempts to resolve the medical card crisis.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said Mr Cowen's interview on RTE's This weekprogramme was an attempt to "buy time in the face of the unprecedented hostile reaction from the public and the mutiny among his own backbenchers."

"However, 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 said.

He said in his twenty years in the Dáil he could not recall a budget decision that had created so much fury and added that his party would "fight this cruel and heartless budget, which asks those on low and middle incomes to pay for the economic mess that Fianna Fail created."

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the Taoiseach "just didn't get" the level of hurt, confusion and anxiety being caused by his and Mary Harney's decision to remove the full medical card.

"It is obvious to me that the Taoiseach is unwilling to say that he got this issue all wrong and simply apologise to the elderly of the country," he said 

"Instead of targeting the old and the weak because the exchequer is in rag order after four years when he was at the helm he should take on board the impact  of this decision and indicate that it will be reversed in full.

"His arguments regarding the savings to be made from this move can more than be compensated by adopting the Fine Gael proposal regarding the use of generic rather than brand name drugs in pharmacies. This has the scope to save between €100 and 150 million in a year," he added.

Sinn Féin Dáil Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the country had a "a punch drunk Government making health policy up as it goes along".

"The Fianna Fáil/PD/Green Government is reeling from the furious public reaction to their decision to re-impose means-testing for medical cards for the over-70s. The Taoiseach, in two prime-time media appearances, has attempted to limit the damage to Fianna Fáil but he is still failing pensioners. He has made clear that means-testing for the over-70s will go ahead. The key decision remains in place," he said.

"The Government decision to re-impose means testing for the over 70s should be reversed without further delay. Enough anguish has been caused to older people."

Age Action spokesman Emaon Timmins said today he was disturbed the Taoiseachwas planning to push ahead with the abolition of the universal entitlement to a medical card for all over-70s.

"We are disturbed that, despite the widespread public outrage at the proposed changes, the Taoiseach is continuing to focus his attention on changing the income thresholds for the proposals, and he is still insisting that the scheme will be means-tested," he said.

"Despite the deafening public outcry, the government still appears to be proceeding with this approach which will deprive many older people vital access to health care."