Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The proposal that the Government announced this morning will save €100 million in 2009. As the House knows, we have established a process and are not allowed to negotiate with the IMO under Irish competition law. A process is to be established, to be chaired by Mr. Eddie Sullivan. He will receive submissions from the Irish Medical Organisation this week, from individual practitioners and others who have an interest in this area. Next Tuesday he will report to me and we will discuss this matter at Cabinet on Wednesday. The intention is to have a single fee for all patients over 70. I do not believe it is right that those over 70 who got a medical card based on means — 215,000 people — were worth approximately €160 a year to their doctor while those who qualified automatically, based on age, were worth €640. I do not believe that is fair.

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