Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I would like more clarification on the legislative arrangements to withdraw medical cards from pensioners. The Tánaiste stated that two legislative measures will be required. The first will be a measure to repeal section 1 of the 2001 Act and the second will be required to withdraw the medical cards. Will these measures be made by way of separate legislation or does it remain the intention to include them in the social welfare Bill?

If the Government is introducing legislative measures to withdraw the medical cards from pensioners, why will it not legislatively underpin the commitment it supposedly gave yesterday to the effect that means test limits will be index linked? What of the arrangements for the social welfare Bill? From previous statements, I understood that the measures withdrawing the medical cards would be included in that Bill. Subsequently, we were told of some type of odd arrangement whereby the social welfare Bill would be introduced by two Ministers, one part by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs and the other part by the Minister for Health and Children. Will the issue be explained?

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