FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny announced yesterday that the party will force a Dáil vote on the budget changes to the over-70s medical card next week by bringing forward a Private Members’ motion calling for a reversal of the policy.
“Fine Gael is taking the first available opportunity to force a Dáil vote to maintain the current entitlements of senior citizens. There are thousands of older people whose fears and concerns must be allayed by the restoration of the rights that have been taken away from them,” said Mr Kenny.
He said that Fianna Fáil and Independent deputies who have voiced concern at the move would now have the opportunity to vote with their feet.
Leader of the Labour Party Eamon Gilmore has challenged the legal authority of the HSE to require people over 70 to return their means test forms for medical cards in advance of appropriate legislation being passed by the Dáil.
He has written to chief executive of the HSE Prof Brendan Drumm expressing his disquiet at the information displayed on the HSE website stating that people over 70 with medical cards will have to fill in a form next month and return it within two weeks.
“I have to say . . . I find this pre-emptive approach on the part of the Government, supported apparently by an independent State agency, very disturbing.
“You must be aware that the full eligibility, without means test, of all those aged 70 and upwards to HSE services is provided for by section 1 of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001. That Act remains in force as the law of the land and binds the Minister for Health and Children and your executive. No Bill to amend or repeal that provision has yet been published – let alone passed by both Houses and signed into law by the President,” said Mr Gilmore.
