Reilly: Free GP care the ‘absolute intention'

Free GP care for all by 2016 is the “absolute intention” of the Government, Health Minister James Reilly said as he defended the removal of the medical card for 40,000 people.

He made the comments as he came under increased pressure from the European Commission in a progress report criticising efforts to curb overspending in his department.

The draft report follows the troika’s latest review mission to Ireland and singles out health which overspent by almost €400m last year.