McGrath set to withdraw his support for Government

INDEPENDENTS:FINIAN McGRATH, one of three Independent TDs who support the Government, is set to withdraw his backing for the coalition over the medical cards issue.

Meanwhile, the other two TDs involved in the pact with the Fianna-Fáil led coalition, Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rae, last night said they had yet to decide if they would support the Government on the issue.

Mr McGrath, who represents Dublin North Central, contacted Government chief whip Pat Carey on Saturday to say he could not support the Government unless the decision to withdraw the universal availability of the card to over 70s was reversed.

He told The Irish Times yesterday he was likely to walk away from the arrangement he made with the coalition in return for his support. This would mean he would support a Fine Gael Private Members' motion condemning the medical card decision when it was debated in the Dáil this week.

Mr McGrath said he had received little reassurance from Mr Cowen's RTÉ interview yesterday. "It leaves me in a difficult position. It is looking like I am on the way out. My view is that tinkering around and including a few more thousand people will not wash."

Mr Lowry said he has told the Government he is undecided.

"I am waiting to see what they come up with. I just need to know what the formal Government position is before I make a decision," said the Independent from Tipperary North.

He said he had yet to make his mind up about how he would vote on the Fine Gael motion.

Likewise, Mr Healy Rae, from Kerry South warned that his support could not be guaranteed and he wanted the decision to be scrapped entirely.

"It's a pure disaster in the world. I could not go to a funeral and go out the door but people were sticking into me. The one thing they do not want to hear the word of is a 'means test'. A lot of them feel if there's a means test then their pensions will be taken away. I cannot vote against the old people."

Government sources said if Mr McGrath voted with the Opposition then his deal would be terminated. On the other two TDs, the sources said the sense was that one or the two might abstain but neither would vote against the Government.

Elsewhere, Green Party leader John Gormley spoke to Mr Cowen yesterday, and conveyed the concerns of its TDs and senators over the decision.

The party said it had asked for a review, which was being done.

Yesterday it said it had said this issue was never a pulling-out-of-Government-one.

However, party whip Ciarán Cuffe said the handling had been appalling, and warned that "a good outcome must be found to protect the vulnerable".

The PDs yesterday said the party and Minister for Health Mary Harney had no difficulty with the changes signalled by the Taoiseach.