Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the eligibility criteria for non-Irish EU citizens differs to Irish citizens for medical card entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37996/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is primarily based on residency and means. Any person, regardless of nationality or citizenship, who is accepted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) as being ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility (Category 1, i.e. medical card holders) or limited eligibility (Category 2) for health services. At present, medical cards (full eligibility) are granted primarily on the basis of means and individual circumstances. The question of citizenship does not arise in determining eligibility under the Health Act 1970.

Entitlement to health care in Ireland may also arise under the provisions of Regulation (EC) 1408/71, which coordinates health and social security arrangements among EU member states (it also applies in the remaining EEA member states and Switzerland). Under these provisions, people who are insured with (covered by) the health care system of one EU member state are entitled to receive health care in the public system of another member state in certain circumstances, at the cost of the member state in which they are insured. Such persons may include people who are employed in one member state and resident in another and their dependants, pensioners of one member state who reside in another and their dependants and visitors to one member state from another. The provisions of Regulation (EC) 1408/71 supersede national eligibility provisions. Persons residing or staying in Ireland who are covered by these provisions are entitled free of charge to all medical treatment provided for by Irish legislation, where the cost of this treatment is payable by a member state other than Ireland; those residing here receive a medical card as evidence of their entitlement under the Regulation.