Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

There is confusion as to whether or not the Minister will attend tomorrow's debate. Yesterday, Members on this side of the House were told he would attend. I expect him to do so. I ask the Leader to respond to that point at the conclusion of the Order of Business.

We are used to confusion from the Government. Confusion surrounded the bank guarantee, third level fees, stamp duty and e-voting machines. We now see it in the bank guarantee scheme regarding the role of directors. There is a lack of clarity about their role. More confusion emerged yesterday. Every Fianna Fáil Deputy stood up and applauded the budget on Tuesday, yet it removes the right to a medical card to an elderly person, which could cost him or her up to €2,000 a year. Many elderly people were on radio yesterday and many called our offices because they are concerned and anxious about the additional cost and whether they will have to make a decision between paying for physiotherapy or medicines and paying for fuel. Many of them are afraid they will have to make such decisions having planned as they thought for their retirement and feeling secure about their medicines and so on.

Fianna Fáil bought the 2002 election with that decision, and in harsher economic times the medical card is being taken away from people who face significant uncertainty and concern. Age Action Ireland has had to call a public meeting to explain what is going on. There is confusion among Ministers. Different rates are quoted on the HSE website and by Ministers for the means test. We have become used to confusion from the Government on many issues but a line must be drawn when it causes upset and stress for elderly people at their most vulnerable.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to ask the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to explain the means test, how it will apply to elderly people and how their savings would be affected. I heard a woman on radio yesterday who said she could have spent her savings on a property abroad or in many other ways but she put her money away as a fall-back for when she was older. What will happen to her savings? What will be taken into account? There is complete confusion, which was not helped by the Minister for Finance's comments on radio earlier. He is also confused. Does anyone in Government know the criteria? Can anyone allay the fear and confusion and come into the House and explain the rules that will govern the medical card scheme when thousands of elderly people reapply in January, given their sense of certainty has been taken away? Could the Minister for Health and Children be brought to the House to bring clarity about what will happen? Does she know what is happening? Will she come to the House to answer these questions, which are upsetting many people around the country?