SF deputy earning €100,000 kept using his free medical card

A SINN FÉIN TD who kept his medical card after being elected to the Dáil said yesterday he was in the process of getting private health insurance.

Deputy Martin Ferris earns more than a €100,000 annually. His medical card was granted when he was unemployed.

But despite the fact he's been earning six figures since his North Kerry election in June, he used his medical card to get a free 35 flu injection last month. Deputy Ferris said he was told by the Southern Health Board he could keep the card, that allows his free visits to GPs, prescribed medication and hospital care, after his success in the general election.