Pensioners protest medical card cuts outside Dáil
More than a thousand senior citizens have held a rally in central Dublin against cuts to medical cards.
Pensioners took to the streets outside Leinster House to protest at the medical card changes, as well as cuts to telephone allowances and the bereavement grant.
Around 35,000 people will lose their medical cards under Budget cutbacks announced last week.
Meanwhile, a break-away group of around a hundred protestors is marching down Kildare Street away from Leinster House.
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The senior citizens have now been joined by a small number of younger demonstrators.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out any u-turn on the cuts saying difficult decisions have been needed to make sure the health service has enough money to operate safely.
He has told the Dáil that the health system can survive on its reduced budget, saying it was "challenging but achievable".
He said something had to give, and the cuts for medical cards for over-70's will not be reversed.
