THE GOVERNMENT defeated an Opposition motion on the medical card issue last night but any sense of relief among Coalition TDs was diminished by the scale of street protests earlier in the day outside the gates of Leinster House.
The protest by the elderly was organised by the Senior Citizens' Parliament in advance of the vote on a Fine Gael motion calling for a reversal of the decision to end automatic entitlement of the over-70s to a medical card.
The turnout, estimated to be up to 15,000, surprised TDs of all parties. "In my long years in this House I have never witnessed what I saw on the streets today," said Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who maintained that the Government was now doomed.
"Your Judas response to the elderly will be your epitaph," he said, winding up the debate on his party's motion.
The Government's voting position was strengthened yesterday evening by the support of Tipperary South TD Michael Lowry. He announced that he had received written assurances from Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan that the new medical card income threshold would be increased annually and that other schemes for the elderly like free travel and electricity would not be tampered with. "In spite of my electorate being seething with the Government, I have decided that it is better to work for change than take the easy option and walk away," said Mr Lowry.
During the debate a succession of Fianna Fáil and Green Party speakers apologised for the hurt caused to the elderly by the Budget decision on medical cards but they accused the Opposition parties of spreading misinformation designed to cause fear and panic among the over-70s.
In the vote which took place at 8.30pm the Government had a majority of seven despite the defection to the Opposition of Joe Behan, who resigned from Fianna Fáil last week, and Independent TD Finian McGrath, who had supported the Coalition since the last election. A Government amendment to the Fine Gael motion was carried by 81 votes to 74. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern went through the division lobby on crutches.
The Department of Health last night confirmed Mr Lowry's statement that the new thresholds for medical cards would be index-linked. They are €700 per week for single people and €1,400 per week for a couple.
In addition, it also emerged yesterday that legislation will be required to bring an end to an automatic right to a medical card for over-70s.
The Bill will be drafted after discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation and will be brought forward by January 1st .
The issue of legislation was raised in the Dáil yesterday by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore. He contended the only way the Government could change the arrangement was "by bringing in a legislative measure to take the medical card off them".
Education is now set to be the big political issue in the week ahead with teachers threatening to send children home from school and the Labour Party tabling a Dáil motion calling for a reversal of the Budget decision to increase the pupil-teacher ratio.
Also yesterday about 10,000 students protested at the gates of Leinster House in opposition to the Budget decision to double third-level registration fees.
Green Party councillors last night expressed opposition to increased class sizes and said that discussions on the issue were expected in the coming days.
However, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe, who is in China, said he would not change the decision announced in the Budget.
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation and school managers warned that children will be sent home and some schools may have to close because of the Budget provision on substitute cover.