Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, to the House for this important debate. The Bill seeks to amend the eligibility for the medical card for people over 70 years of age. Like other speakers, I would be much happier if we did not have to address this issue but we live in very difficult times, resources are scarce and we must target them at the most needy.

A total of 40% of the population have access to GP services under the GMS scheme. It is amazing and alarming that, as of February 2013, almost 1,860,000 people or 40% of the population have medical cards. Another 130,000 or 3% of the population have a GP visit card. Due to the desire of a previous Government some years ago to guarantee re-election, medical cards were issued to all 370,000 people aged more than 70 years, irrespective of their means or income. That was not just or equitable at a time when the Government should have been targeting scarce resources at the most needy and vulnerable. Today, 360,000 or 97% of the over 70s have a medical card, whereas between 35% and 40% of the population under 70 years of age have medical cards. This legislation will still leave 92% of the over 70s with a medical card and a further 20,000 people, or 5%, will continue to receive free GP care instead of the full medical card.

This change will have no impact whatsoever on the vast majority of ordinary citizens over 70 years of age. We should not be worrying and alarming people about this.