Medical card eligibility
Rabbitte challenged the fall in the share of people with medical cards and asked about access; Smith said qualifying limits were being increased and argued that employment and economic growth helped people provide for themselves.
This is in total contradiction to what is actually in the Hanly report. From the Minister's answer, I take it that the report's recommendations are now dead. Will the Minister specifically address the problems in accident and emergency service provision? After seven years in office, it is unacceptable, even with its new social democratic and caring face, that there are approximately 100,000 fewer medical cards in the system. The reality is that while in the economically difficult days of the 1980s approximately 40% of the population had medical cards, the figure is now only 29.6%. I do not want to raise the other social welfare cuts such as rent allowance.
If that is the social democratic and caring face of Fianna Fáil, no wonder it is concentrating its fire on choreographed press statements, well-signalled in advance to the newspapers, attacking the Progressive Democrats. This focus on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, will only undermine his already fragile self-confidence. It will not improve the lot of those using accident and emergency wards.
Comment on this
The Government is always working to increase the qualifying limits for medical cards.
Comment on this
I am proud that approximately 400,000 more people are now at work than in 1997. Their incomes are such that they are in a better position to cater for themselves.
Comment on this
That thrust of economic development takes more people out of the poverty trap. It gets them into jobs, allowing them the better opportunity to look after themselves.
Comment on this
The Government is spending it all on State dinners for all its pals coming over from Europe.
Comment on this
Deputy Ring is looking for a trolley for the Minister.