Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there has been a change in entitlement to medical card for a person with a social security pension and an occupational pension from another EU Member State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17286/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Regulation (EC) 1408/71 deals with the coordination of social security schemes, including healthcare, for those moving within the European Union. Under its provisions persons who are insured with (covered by) the healthcare system of one EU member state are entitled to receive healthcare services 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 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, although this is not based on national legislation. Persons in receipt of a qualifying pension from another EU member state and who are not in receipt of a qualifying Irish pension will receive a medical card under these rrangements. There have been no changes in the entitlement of this category of insured persons.