Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I fully support the Fine Gael motion. On tonight's news the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, was quoted as saying the Government had learnt from its mistakes and the matter was now resolved. It is far from resolved. The Government is completely out of touch. It has broken a sacred bond with the people. It has broken their trust. The people voted the Government in and it has broken the bond of trust with the elderly. When the then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, introduced the medical card scheme for the over 70s in May 2001 he said in this House:

It is important that we as a society show our commitment to the elderly and our appreciation for what the older generation has done to build this country. Elderly people have greater medical need than other age groups.

Shame on the Government, which is turning its back on the elderly. The same circumstances still apply. In pointing out that at the time only 30,000 people did not qualify for a medical card, the then Minister, Deputy Martin, said: "More than 1.15 million people in the country have a medical card so 30,000 is not an enormous figure". A figure of 20,000 is even smaller and is still not an enormous figure. The Minister, Deputy Harney, has said that only 5%, one person in 20, will not have a medical card. It is one in seven out of 140,000 who will lose a medical card. Like in the budget, the Government's figures do not add up.

This is a poor public health decision. If it costs €1,650 for a medical card, the cost of two nights in a hospital is far in excess of that figure and puts the Government's primary health care model to shame. The Minister, Deputy Harney, is quoted as saying the 2% health levy would not apply to anyone over 70 who previously had a medical card. Does that still apply because I saw nothing in yesterday's announcement to confirm that? I would like the Minister to put it on the record. Shame on the Government.

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