Harney ‘deceit’ over medical cards

OPPOSITION parties have accused Health Minister Mary Harney of lying about the number of people on medical cards.

Labour health spokesperson Liz McManus yesterday said the Tánaiste was “continuing to misrepresent the Government’s decision on medical cards in a manner that can only be regarded as deliberately untruthful and deceitful.”

She was referring to the €60 million provision in the Health Estimates to extend the full medical card next year to another 30,000 people and to offer a “doctor visit only” card to an additional 200,000.