Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I want to send our best wishes to our former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, who suffered an accident yesterday. I was sorry to hear that and I look forward to seeing him in the House later this evening.

Senators Fitzgerald, Alex White, O'Toole, Buttimer, Mary White, Norris, Regan, Feeney, Healy Eames, Hanafin, Coghlan, Ryan, Bacik, O'Reilly, Hannigan, Ross and McCarthy expressed strong views on the budget, and particularly the medical card aspect of it. The facts are that the Government had decided, and made an announcement yesterday morning, that regarding the new income threshold for medical cards, persons aged over 70, whose gross weekly income is €700 per week or €36,500 or less per year for a single person or €1,400 per week or €73,000 per annum for a couple, will continue to have a full medical card. In addition, those with incomes above the threshold experiencing difficulty in meeting their medical needs will be eligible to apply for a medical card under the Health Service Executive discretionary medical card scheme. As I informed the House yesterday, I understand there are approximately 70,000 people in that discretionary medical card scheme and I complimented the general practitioners, our public representatives and members of the HSE who understood the circumstances which credited the discretionary medical card being given to those in need but who were caught a little above the threshold.

Tomorrow in the House we will have statements on health promotion priorities. This will be a wide-ranging debate on health issues. I want to inform the House that I have passed on the request made to me by many Members yesterday, particularly the leaders of the groups and the leader of the Opposition, Senator Fitzgerald, to have the Minister, Deputy Harney, present in the House at the earliest opportunity. I am awaiting a response from the Minister in respect of the matter.

I also announced to the House yesterday that I welcome the fact that the 1% income levy will not be applied in respect of those on the minimum wage. These people comprise approximately one third of the workforce and earn €17,500 or less per annum.

I do not know the position in most other local authority areas but the local authority of which Senator Glynn and I were previously members introduced a scheme under which anyone in possession of a medical card is automatically entitled to a waiver in respect of refuse charges. If this is not the position in their areas, perhaps Members might discuss the matter with their local authority representatives. When the scheme was introduced in Westmeath it was extremely successful. Local authority members in each electoral area have their fingers on the pulse.