Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

Under the budget changes the income limit was €298 for a couple. Two days later, after the Minister, Deputy Harney's rushed changes, this was increased to €480.60, which equates exactly to the top rate of the State pension. Therefore, a pensioner with even the smallest occupational pension would lose his or her medical card. In effect, the changes the Minister announced last Thursday made little or no difference to pensioners with regard to their entitlement to a medical card. We know the rule was in place which stated that if one's only income was from social welfare one would receive the card, irrespective of what income limit was stated. The Minister's increase, announced with a fanfare on Thursday, made absolutely no difference to the numbers of people who would qualify for a medical card.

Old age brings with it great uncertainty, not least with respect to people's fears for their health. The greatest fear of many older people is that if their health fails with advanced years, they may not be able to access adequate health care. The automatic entitlement to a medical card gave older people certainty and peace of mind. This budget decision shattered all of that.

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