Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 643: To ask the Minister for Health if EU pensioners are entitled to an Irish medical card without being means tested once they are in receipt of a pension from their country of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22121/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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EU Regulations 1408/71 and 883/04 on the coordination of social security systems provide for and support the movement of people within the EU, EEA and Switzerland. With regard to health care the principle is that persons exercising their right to move and stay freely within this area do not suffer disadvantage in accessing or paying for health services. The Regulations are binding on all member states and do not allow for any discretion in establishing entitlement. Therefore, a pensioner in receipt of a qualifying pension in a member state is entitled to access health care in another member state on the same basis as persons who are insured with and resident in that other member state. In Ireland, such a pensioner will be granted a medical card on production of the relevant form establishing entitlement. The cost of the health care is the responsibility of the member state to which the person is linked.