Behan: I had to face up to what's right

A Fianna Fáil TD quit the party tonight in the first signs of a major backbench revolt over the Government's controversial Budget reforms.

Bray-based Joe Behan, who was elected to the Dail last year, told Taoiseach Brian Cowen he could no longer support the coalition branding planned cutbacks in education and on medical cards a betrayal.

The former school principal hit out at the increase in class sizes and said scrapping free healthcare for the over 70s was an attack on the elderly.

Mr Behan rebelled despite efforts by the Fianna Fail leadership to ease fears at a hastily-convened parliamentary party meeting yesterday morning followed by an embarrassing redrafting of the medical card reforms.

"At times you've got to face up to what's right and what's wrong," Mr Behan said.

"The fact that they (pensioners) have been told by this party and by the Government that they would not have to worry about the provision of medical cards when they reached 70, to withdraw them is just completely alien to all the principles that I would stand by, that Fianna Fail stands by."

The Government has faced a barrage of criticism from Opposition parties, lobby groups and the public for scrapping the free healthcare.

Fine Gael tabled a motion for a Dáil debate on the plan, due to be heard next Tuesday and Wednesday, with four Green Party TDs and several Fianna Fáil backbenchers unhappy with the cost-saving plan.

But with the Taoiseach in China next week, the Government may be forced to act during the weekend.

Mr Behan claimed party members throughout the country were angered at the decision and warned that ministers may be forced into a U-turn on the issue.

"Members of Fianna Fail throughout the country... are totally and completely opposed to this decision on medical cards and I've no doubt in time it would have to be reversed," Mr Behan said.

The Government has already adjusted threshold limits around its controversial plan, but insisted the Budget measure would remain.

The Department of Health announced it was significantly increasing the medical card eligibility limits to €240.30 for a single person and €480.60 for a couple.

Hundreds of pensioners are expected to march to Leinster House on Wednesday unless the plan is reversed or at least seriously altered.

Government TD and Green Party deputy leader Mary White tonight called for the Cabinet to look at the issue again.

Flanked by colleagues Ciaran Cuffe, Senators Dan Boyle and Deirdre de Burca, Ms White said: "We want to send out a strong message to the Government that the scheme be looked at again.

"This is not a pulling out of Government issue."

Suggesting a split between the coalition partners, Fianna Fáil attempted to deflect attention on to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which secured a lucrative deal for its members when the automatic scheme was brought in by former Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy in 2001.

Backbench TDs Michael McGrath and Thomas Byrne issued a joint statement on behalf of the party claiming the initiative was driven by value-for-money.

The pair called on the IMO to accept a lower payment for treating over 70s.

"If the doctors and the IMO were willing to re-examine the price situation, medical cards for the over 70s may become more affordable. Under such circumstances I believe the Government would be prepared to look at this decision again," the two TDs said.

Under the old medical system doctors are paid four times as much for treating a patient aged 70 or over than they are for younger patients - €161 compared to €641.

"There is a clear discrepancy between the two figures. The Government believes it would be very helpful, in light of the difficult economic climate, if the IMO were to agree to a lower payment for patients over 70," the Fianna Fáil TDs said.