Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

When former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, announced in 2001 that there would be medical cards for everybody over the age of 70, the one point that he got dramatically wrong was the actual number of people in this category. The Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, stated the reason she is fixed on the figures of €600 and €1,200 is because the Revenue Commissioners have told her the establishment of thresholds at these values would ensure 95% of the population will be covered.