Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

For the purpose of clarity, while the changes were introduced by the HSE, they were introduced on foot of a decision taken by the Government last December, at the time of the budget, to amend the mechanisms for calculating net income for medical card purposes.

On the reference made by the Senator to the commitment made by the Government in the programme for Government to introduce free GP care for all, that commitment remains in place. We are mid-way through what I hope will be our five year term in office. I have every confidence in the Minister and his colleagues to deliver on the commitment.