Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

If the Taoiseach had been in St. Andrew's church, Westland Row, today with Members of the Government he would have appreciated to a far greater extent the hurt and anger felt by the elderly population arising from the Government's shameful decision. At least 2,000 people heard stories from the elderly of the circumstances in which they now find themselves and what faces them as a consequence of the Government's decision to take back that which they never asked for and to end the principle of universality in regard to medical cards for people on reaching the age of 70 years. That card was given to them on the basis of what they did for this country when times were not good, how they sustained it during bad times in paying exorbitant rates of tax, for paying in full for their children's education and in accepting in good faith and in trust that this State would look after their medical needs when they passed the age of 70 years having been given a medical card.

The Taoiseach and the Government created fear and concern among the elderly who are bruised and offended by what was done. Since Friday, the Taoiseach has made three attempts to rectify this problem, namely, on "Six One" news, on Sunday and again today. I am not sure where the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who introduced this measure, was. One would have thought that he who introduced it should have been at the conference today.

Each intervention by the Taoiseach was not on the basis of dealing with the elderly but of quelling the revolt in the backbenches of Fianna Fáil who know this decision was wrong; that this principle should not be breached. The decision of Government is now recognised by every Fianna Fáil member to have been grievously wrong. The Taoiseach has expressed regret that this decision was taken and for the incompetent and shameful manner in which this matter was handled. The Taoiseach will shortly leave for China on important business and I respect that. The saving as a result of this decision was calculated to be €30 million, half the amount spent on electronic voting machines.

Will the Taoiseach, before he leaves, prevent the ignominy of thousands of elderly citizens arriving in this city tomorrow to campaign to retain their right to a medical card, a right given to them in good faith by this Government, a trust now breached?

See this speech in context