That Seanad Éireann, noting that the proportion of the population in receipt of medical cards is close to an all time low; aware that the non availability of medical cards increases pressure on accident and emergency services; aware that a promise to introduce medical cards for 200,000 more people was made before the last election, condemns the decision to renege on that promise, calls for the immediate reversal of that decision and the introduction of a free GP service for all before the next general election.