Thousands to make Budget protest

Thousands of pensioners are expected to take to the streets of Dublin today to protest over new Budget reforms to means test the over-70s for a medical card.

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament said that despite the Government increasing the threshold limits, a planned rally outside the Dáil would go ahead at 12.30pm.

Almost 2,000 elderly people yesterday filled a city centre church to show their solidarity and oppose plans to scrap free medical care for some of the country’s most vulnerable.

Just hours earlier the government was forced into an embarrassing climb down over controversial plans to abolish automatic free health care for the over-70s.

After a threatened backbench revolt, resignations and a massive public outcry, Taoiseach Brian Cowen dramatically reversed last week’s Budget reform.

“I regret the fact that this caused the anxiety and the stress that it did,” he said.

Revised proposals to quell the deepening crisis within Government ranks will now see just the wealthiest 5% of over-70s losing their right to free medical care.

Only couples with incomes of more than €73,000 and single pensioners with incomes of over €36,500 a year will have to pay for their health treatment.

Despite the u-turn, angry pensioners turned out en masse at the Age Action meeting, which was moved from a hotel to St Andrew’s Church on Westland Row.

The crowd unanimously backed a motion calling on the Government to reverse its decision to abolish the automatic right to the medical card for people over-70.

Campaigners also called on pensioners all over the country to join them outside the Dáil today in protest.

Fianna Fáil’s junior health minister John Moloney was booed and heckled as he tried to speak to the congregation from the altar, and eventually left.

Elsewhere, the opposition – Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny, Labour’s Eamon Gilmore and Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghin O’Caolain – used the platform to try and secure votes in next year’s local and European elections.

Mr Kenny even compared the two Brians – Cowen and Lenihan – to Laurel and Hardy.

“... another fine mess you’ve landed us in,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dublin’s third-level students will also take to the streets today to demonstrate their anger at proposals by education minister Batt O’Keeffe to reintroduce third level tuition fees.

Hundreds are expected to meet at the Gardens of Remembrance on Parnell Square at 1.30pm and march to Leinster House where they will stage a protest.

Opposition members and Shane Kelly, USI President, will address the crowd.