Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. Deputy Healy raised a fair point in the Dáil recently and he has repeated it today. In the circumstances he and others have outlined, there is no basis for doctors to impose extra charges. The position is clear and it has been communicated to the IMO. To the extent that it is necessary to do that again, it will be done. If there are doubts about any of these areas, the time for them to be addressed is during the negotiations on a new contract. The issue is being addressed by the HSE and I have no difficulty with the Deputy raising it and drawing it to my attention.

In regard to savings, he addressed the broader political point in respect of the economic adjustments and the possibility of finding a fairer way. It is interesting and important to debate who has been most affected by the economic downturn and the measures introduced by the Government. I respect his refusal to accept that savings have to be made in the GMS but if he did accept our argument, he would agree this is the fairest way to do so. Approximately 85% of those aged over 70 years will retain the full medical card. The change is not affecting the overwhelming majority of citizens aged over 70 years.

Deputy Ó Caoláin raised the issue of gross assessment as opposed to net assessment for the over 70s. Perhaps he was suggesting this may throw up anomalies in respect of people who are working. It is open to persons over the age of 70 years to be assessed through the net system that applies to the rest of the population. There are slightly different schedules for applicants aged over 65 years. In respect of the €900 and €500, I pointed out on Second Stage that the Government realises the living costs of an individual living alone are more than half those of a couple. Expenditure does not necessarily diminish relative to the number of people in a household. That was the rationale behind the thresholds.

With respect to what Deputy Kelleher said in his rejoinder, nobody disagreed with me when I said that the change is not contrary to the policy of universal GP access without fees because the GP card is not being removed from anybody. As is his entitlement, the Deputy is fond of pointing out what people said prior to the election. I recall that the previous Government intended to make fundamental changes to medical cards for the over 70s.