Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)

I thank my colleagues for sharing time. While I may only speak on the Bill for two and half minutes, I could speak for two and a half hours. Deputy Connaughton indicated that the issue of medical cards for the elderly has been mishandled since the budget. It has been mishandled since this type of medical card was first introduced in 2001. At that time, it was estimated that the scheme would cost approximately €30 million per annum to finance. In its first and second years of operation, however, it cost €70 million and €115 million, respectively, to fund the scheme. Preparation, planning and consultation were absent.

This scheme reminds me of the decentralisation programme because it, too, fell to pieces. It was announced in the recent budget that the measure to curtail the availability of medical cards to those aged over 70 years would deliver savings of €100 million. The Minister has indicated, however, that it will save €16 million. Why were 350,000 elderly people put through such anxiety and exposed to such travails to save €16 million per annum?

I echo my colleagues' call on the Minister to restore the principle of universality and provide medical cards to everyone aged 70 years and over. Those affected by the measure have worked hard, built up the Celtic tiger and financed services through taxes and other contributions. A cohort of retired public servants, including teachers, gardaí and nurses, as well as widows who receive a social welfare payment or widow's pension, will find that their incomes are above the threshold and lose medical cards they have had for three, four or five years.

I am pleased the Minister has entered the Chamber. Many elderly lifelong VHI subscribers terminated their policies when they received a medical card. Will they be able to rejoin the VHI and, if so, how long will they have to wait? For the sake of saving €16 million, the Bill does not merit support. I appeal to Government Deputies and the Minister to restore the principle of universality and, in so doing, remove the anxiety people are experiencing.

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