Rally to voice medical card issue outrage

GROUPS representing older people are to converge at two major gatherings next week to voice their outrage at the decision to means-test the over 70s medical card.

Age Action has called an open meeting for next Tuesday and has invited all TDs and ministers to attend although organisation spokesman Eamon Timmins said the Minister for Older People, Maire Hoctor, had already said she had prior commitments and would not attend.

Mr Timmins said the meeting was being held to put politicians face to face with the people whose lives were affected by the budget decisions. “What’s missing in all this is the voice of the people most affected,” he said.