A planned march through the city centre on Saturday in protest at the removal of universal medical cards for the over 70s will go ahead despite changes to the government plan to remove it this morning.
At a press conference earlier today in Dublin, Taoiseach Brian Cowen announced that the income limit for those over 70 to receive a medical card would be increased to €700 a week for a single person and €1,400 a week for a couple.
The plan to remove the universal medical card for people over 70 resulted in the resignation of one Fianna Fail TD, two Fianna Fail councillors in Kerry, two Progressive Democrats councillors in Galway, and the withdrawal of support for the government from an independent TD, as well as numerous protests from government backbenchers.
However, those campaigning against the changes to the scheme remain unimpressed. A public meeting this morning had to find a larger location due to huge turnout.
Meanwhile, the organiser of Saturday’s protest here in Limerick City, Phonsie Franklin, (72) described the move as a “con”
In an interview with the Limerick Leader he said, “At the outset, the Government wanted to save €100m, but only five per cent of people are losing their medical card. The government are only getting €5m. What the hell is that all about? It just serves to allow the government to con the people again. Next year, 20 per cent of people will lose their card, and the year after it will be 30 per cent. I think the only reason Cowen announced these changes was because the Government did not want to back down completely.”
Other activists groups look unlikely to cancel their protests either. In a statement released prior to this mornings press conference, Cian Prenderville, Limerick Campaign for a Real Public Health Service, said “We will not accept any means testing of the basic human right to health care. Now that the government is on the back foot, this is the time to step up the pressure to force them to back down completely.”
Local Green representative, Trish Brennan welcomed the change. In her post press conference statement she stated that under the new criteria, a vast majority of those whould retain their medical cards, and that those who have the 70+ cards whould not have to undergo a means test.
Under the new scheme, those with a medical card will be notified of the new limits by the HSE and will be required to notify them if their income is over the cut-off limit.
UPDATE: Jan O’Sullivan, Labour Party spokesperson on health and Limerick TD has, since this morning’s press conference by the government and the public meeting held by campaigners, said in a statement that the government’s “U-turn” was a failure
“Having attended today’s rally in St Andrew’s Church, the point is loud and clear that that this measure is not enough. Nothing less than a complete withdrawal of the plan to scrap automatic entitlement to the card, will restore people’s confidence,” she has said in a statement.
