FF TDs urged to oppose axing of cards

FIANNA Fáil backbench TDs are being challenged at the eleventh hour to vote against “profoundly unjust” laws to bring to an end the automatic entitlement to medical cards for over-70s.

The Dáil will vote today on the Health Bill bringing into law the most controversial aspect of the budget, which lead to the resignation of one Fianna Fáil TD, Joe Behan, and threatened a backbench revolt.

The vote will take place despite calls from the opposition not to “guillotine” the debate on the bill by cutting short the time to debate it in detail.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny described it as a “betrayal of the elderly” while Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, said it was a “scandalous” piece of legislation.

Under the law, people over 70 will lose their medical card if they earn more than €700 a week as a single person or €1,400 a week for a couple.

During a debate on the Bill yesterday, Health Minister Mary Harney announced some last minute changes.

These included allowing a widow or widower to keep their entitlements for up to three years after the death of their spouse without their changed incomes being considered in their means test.

Ms Harney also said incomes from compensation schemes paid by the State will not be taken into account in the means test.

This means that the 15,000 elderly people overcharged for nursing home care who received compensation under the Health Repayment Scheme, will not have that income included in their means test.

Victims of Dr Michael Neary in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, will not have to declare their compensation for the test.

Those who received compensation under the Residential Institutions Redress Board and the Hepatitis C Tribunal are also exempt.

A number of Fianna Fáil TDs were strongly opposed to the plans when they were announced in October but voted with the Government when the opposition tabled a private members’ motion to reverse the plans.

Fine Gael health spokesperson Dr James Reilly said yesterday: “They (backbenchers) certainly spoke out against it in their constituencies but when it came to walking the walk, only Joe Behan walked.”

Labour Party health spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan said her party would “vigorously” oppose the bill and called on government backbenchers who spoke out against the removal of medical cards to vote with their feet”.