Government criticised as medical card bill clears final hurdle

THE Government was sharply criticised over the decision to remove the automatic entitlement to medical cards for over-70s which got over its final hurdle when it was passed in the Seanad yesterday.

In a scathing attack on the decision, Senator David Norris said yesterday that the Government has told people it is unpatriotic to live a long life.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said in his budget speech in October that the harsh measures were “no less than a call to patriotic action”.