Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 112: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if it is intended to withhold pay increases due to general practitioners as a result of their decision not to co-operate with the issuing of the general practitioner-only card; her views on whether this decision may lead to industrial action and consequent disruption of services to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20831/05]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 115: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with the IMO regarding the introduction of the promised doctor-only card; her plans for further discussions; the number of such cards issued to date; when the full complement will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20829/05]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce the doctor-only medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20922/05]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 136: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of medical cards issued as of June 1997, June 2002 and 30 September 2004 and the latest date for which figures are available; if the Government intends to honour the pledge in An Agreed Programme for Government to extend eligibility to bring in another 200,000 persons and the commitment given on the publication of the Estimates for 2005 that 30,000 additional medical cards would be issued from 1 January 2005; the number of the promised 30,000 new medical cards that have been issued since that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20827/05]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 143: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the call made by a person (details supplied) for the scrapping of plans to introduce the general practitioner-only card and for the Government instead to honour its commitment to provide an additional 200,000 full medical cards; her views on this call; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20832/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 115, 134, 136 and 143 together.

The number of medical cards issued and number of persons covered by a medical card for the dates requested are set out in the following table.

Generally the reduction in recent years in the number of medical cards may be attributed to the increase in the number of people in employment and also the improved economic situation nationally. Additionally, during 2003 and 2004, health boards undertook a review of medical card databases in which approximately 104,000 medical cards records were removed. Normal reviews of databases lead to deletions of medical card records as a result of duplicate entries, change of address, cases where the medical card holder is deceased or ineligibility results due to changed circumstances. Periodic reviews of medical card databases are undertaken by the Health Service Executive, HSE, to ensure their continued accuracy.

In 2005 funding was provided to allow the HSE provide an additional 30,000 people with full medical cards and also to extend free access to general practitioner services under the general medical services, GMS, scheme to up to a further 200,000 persons. The reason for this initiative was to ensure that as many people as possible, particularly those on low income and with children, would be free from the worry of costs associated with accessing general practitioner services for themselves and their children.

The HSE has put in place the necessary administrative arrangements for the introduction of the "GP visit" cards and have been requested to put in place mechanisms to ensure that targets are met. It is intended that a public information campaign will be undertaken which will indicate the process to be followed by applicants to obtain application forms and to have their eligibility assessed by the HSE. It is envisaged that the general practitioners services available to "GP visit" card holders will be the same as those available to patients with full eligibility under the GMS scheme. The Labour Relations Commission last night issued a comprehensive recommendation for settling a range of issues between the Department of Health and Children, the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, including issues surrounding the introduction of the "GP visit" card. I welcome the recommendation and I am hopeful that it will be accepted by the IMO so that the "GP visit" card initiative can be implemented without further delay.