Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the additional number of persons under 70 years who will qualify for a medical card due to having a spouse over 70 and in which their joint income is less than €1,400 a week; and if her attention has been drawn to the concerns by older single persons under 70 years including widows and widowers that this new rule may discriminate against them and should be amended to include widows and other older single persons. [4074/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It is not possible to estimate how many spouses less than 70 years old will be awarded a medical card on the basis of the new thresholds specified in the Health Act 2008.

The Government is satisfied that the new arrangements are equitable and there are no plans to amend the legislation.