ICTU call for McCreevy to issue more medical cards

The President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions says he wants the Government to be generous on the issuing of medical cards in tomorrow's Budget.

The ICTU is also calling on the Minister for Finance not to lower the rate of corporation tax.

ICTU President, Joe O'Toole, says maintaining corporation tax at its current level will help to maximise revenue income from the sector.

He said: "I would like to see the Government bringing in more money by not reducing the corporation tax by 12.5% as promised.

"There is no need to do that, they should just hold back on doing that for the moment."

He concluded: "The other thing that I would like to see him doing is to make money available to extend the number of people who qualify for medical cards and to also ensure that the threshold doesn't exclude other people."