Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)

I referred earlier to it being a case of "a stitch in time", in medical terms, in respect of people visiting their GPs. Those with medical cards can receive treatment at the appropriate time rather than being obliged to do without it. The fear of losing their medical cards is a major disincentive for these people to take up even low paid employment and their relationship with poverty is thus maintained.

The number of full medical cardholders has dropped dramatically from 38.3% of the population in 1983 to 25.7%. This decrease occurred despite the target in the programme for Government to have 200,000 new medical cards. The GP-only medical card will merely be a substitute for the real thing and I do not know whether the same service will be provided to those who possess such cards. These medical cards should, however, at least cover prescription costs or a significant proportion thereof. The payment of €85 per month for medicine represents a major outlay for those on low or even reasonably high incomes.

The timescale relating to the introduction-implementation of GP-only medical cards is a matter which requires urgent attention. A number of community welfare officers do not know what is happening in respect of these cards. The fact that no monetary guidelines have been issued in respect of the cards is making life difficult for everyone involved, particularly people living on the fringes. Not everyone in receipt of social welfare payments qualifies for a medical card. Income guidelines have not kept pace with social welfare increases and this has given rise to certain problems. The guidelines should at least have been index linked. There should be no question that people in receipt of social welfare payments should not be entitled to a medical card. Many people who previously qualified for full medical cards will no longer qualify. No one can claim that people living on social welfare payments are living in luxury. As stated earlier, there should be a moratorium on the withdrawal of medical cards until the doctor-only cards are introduced.

Arising from the Supreme Court judgment on the controversial Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2004, this legislation makes provision for the imposition of charges on elderly people in nursing homes and in full-time care. A great deal of money was taken illegally from people in the past and one presumes this will have to be repaid to them. It must be recognised that money taken in 1976 has lost its purchasing power and there is no point returning it to people now. In that context and if we use the formula used by health boards, namely, the addition of compound interest at a rate of 7% per annum, we will discover that a pound taken in 1976 is now worth in excess of €9.

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