Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I accept the Tánaiste is here to give clarification on this matter. I want her to withdraw her statement that the automatic entitlement has ended. It has not. She said it was a Government decision to introduce it and that the automatic entitlement is gone, but it is not gone. I want her to clarify that and withdraw her comment to that effect.

I want to ask a question about EC Regulation 1408/71, which was mentioned in a response to a question tabled by Deputy Jim O'Keeffe on 24 June 2008. The Deputy asked whether EU nationals over 70 living in this country are entitled to health benefits and medical cards. He was told that such persons receive a medical card as evidence of their entitlement. Is it now the position that EU citizens over 70 living in Ireland are automatically entitled to an Irish medical card? Will we be in a situation where the only people under the Government's proposal not to undertake a means test are EU citizens over 70 living in this country? The Government parties have reduced elderly Irish citizens to economic statistics rather than people. They have offended them, hurt their integrity and driven a stake through what they did for this country.

The Government must reverse that decision and I have provided the answer. The health (miscellaneous) Bill can change the regulations that will allow for pharmacists to prescribe generic drugs instead of branded drugs. That will bring in €150 million and save the blushes of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats and the Independents. The Government can restore some sense of credibility and peace of mind to elderly people who are frightened about the letters they will receive from the Minister for Health and Children in the next fortnight.

See this speech in context