LEGISLATION to change the rules on medical cards for people over 70 years of age will be published this week and will be enacted before Christmas, the Dáil has heard.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen told Labour leader Eamon Gilmore that the legislation had been approved by the Cabinet this week.
Mr Gilmore, who described the measure as "the Bill to take the medical card from pensioners", pointed out that there were "only six sitting days before Christmas" after this week.
He said it was "important legislation that should get the fullest debate and examination" and he was concerned that the Government might "try to railroad it through and get it passed in the middle of the night in the hope that nobody will notice it".
Mr Cowen said the Bill's purpose "simply is to amend the health Acts in respect of the automatic entitlement regarding means".
"The reforms we are to introduce mean that 19 or 20 existing cardholders will retain their medical card entitlement. The change will concern people on incomes well above €75,000. That would be the cut-off limit for a medical card for people over 70 years of age."
When Mr Gilmore asked if that amount referred to individuals, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea intervened and said it referred to a couple.
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