Results 10,221-10,240 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The VHI does not provide cover for GP services.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Let us be clear. That is not the situation.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Excuse me——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: The position is——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am making the point and shouting me down will not change it.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Shouting me down will not change it.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: With respect, I am not wrong. VHI does not cover GP services and the medical card does cover those services. Let me make it very clear, I very much regret the fact——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Just so we get the full flavour of consistency, as I wish to deal with Deputy Gilmore's substantive point——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: Deputy James Reilly, when he was chairman of the IMO's GP committee, condemned the Government's decision to offer medical cards to all pensioners over 70. His position was that it was not acceptable. Now, of course, he decries the fact that we have changed that arrangement.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I presume the Deputy is proud of the fact that, when he was chairman of that GP committee, he negotiated four times the charge for people in less disadvantaged areas than in disadvantaged areas. He effectively got a payment——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: He effectively achieved a payment of €641 for every such person who was on the GP list.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: That was what was negotiated——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——and €85 million of the cost in that regard goes directly to GPs.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: On Deputy Gilmore's point, I very much regret that this was a necessary decision. I would like to have been in a position to say the present situation could have continued, but it was not possible in the context of all the decisions that had to be taken——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——because we have €6.5 billion less in revenue than was anticipated.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: In that regard, a very balanced approach was taken which sees expenditure cuts of over €2 billion——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——tax revenue raising of €2 billion and——

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: One moment, please. In addition, there is €1 billion in regard to the capital programme. I regret that is the situation, but we have sought to achieve that seven of every ten people over 70 will be eligible for that medical card on the means test grounds, based on the data that are available for those who were in receipt of medical card between the age of 66 and 70 and who got the card...

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: There will also be people who will be entitled to the GP-only card and those who will be entitled, up to a dual income limit of €1,300 per week, for the €800 payment towards medical expenses.

Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am sure it would be better for everyone if we were in a position where it could continue to be universally applied but that is not possible in the financial circumstances in which we find ourselves. We had to make an adaptation, a change, a modification which still provides more cover.