Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has been honest in his contribution by confirming that this Bill is all about cutbacks, savings and targeting elderly people for those savings. He indicated that he does not have any other options, but there are choices. This is a wealthy country, although some people would have us believe that it is broke. In October 2012, the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, told us that Ireland is the seventh wealthiest country in the world. Independent CSO evidence indicates that the top 10% of people in this country have increased their income and assets during the course of this recession. There is also clear information that the top 5% of wealthy people in this country have assets in the order of €239 billion.

The Government could have chosen to raise income from these areas, but it chose not to implement a tax on wealth or assets. It also chose not to introduce a third rate of PAYE for higher earners. Some months ago, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, told me that the top 20,000 earners in the country have an annual average income of €476,000 each. These are areas that could have been targeted by the Government for increased taxation. Had that choice been made, it would have obviated the need to target elderly people's savings.

The loss of a medical card does not simply mean the loss of free attendance at one's GP. Medical card holders are entitled to access other services, including home help, appliances, day care centres, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Such services allow elderly people to remain in their homes for as long as possible. They ensure that significant savings are made by the State since older people can remain in their own communities.

The Minister of State referred to issues I raised about charging for services to medical card holders.

That is a reasonably new development. He has indicated that the GP contract needs to be addressed in that context. I am sure he is correct but that will take time. I ask the Minister of State to deal with this matter urgently. I am sure every Deputy is getting complaints from constituents about GPs charging for services that were previously free. It is not good enough to say we will deal with that matter under the contract. We all know the contract will not be agreed today or tomorrow, or possibly even next year.