Health charges - Pensioners need swift restitution

TAXPAYERS face an appalling vista following yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling that retrospective provisions of the Government’s Health Amendment Bill are unconstitutional.

This landmark verdict clears the way, and rightly so, for pensioners to recover money deducted illegally by the State over a 30-year period.

Financially, the implications are enormous. The taxpayer will have to fork out at least €500 million and the final bill could run to €1 billion.