"Taoiseach contradicts himself on medical cards" - Ó Caoláin

Fianna Fáil broken promises

2002 - FF promised to end hospital waiting lists within two years

2004 - 27,000 people still on the waiting lists

2002 - FF promised to issue 200,000 extra medical cards

2004 - There are 20,000 fewer people with medical cards than in 2002

Sinn Féin Health Dáil spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said the Taoiseach contradicted himself in the House on Wednesday when on one hand he welcomed the fact that less people now qualify for medical cards and on the other said he wants to extend qualification.

Ó Caoláin highlighted the Fianna Fáil pre-election promise of 200,000 extra medical cards and pointed out that two years on, 20,000 less people qualify.

Ó Caoláin was addressing the Taoiseach during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil. He highlighted the fact that two years ago on 25 April 2002 the Fianna Fáil General Election manifesto promised to end waiting lists within two years yet there are 27,000 people on waiting lists today. Ó Caoláin pointed up to Ahern that last Sunday marked "the second anniversary of the publication of Fianna Fáil's manifesto for the last general election. Two years on, we know what has happened to the promises that were made. Despite the fanfare given to the document at the time, the anniversary of its publication has passed with little attention."

Ó Caoláin said it would be "appropriate for the Taoiseach to apologise to the people for the Government's failure to live up to promises that were made two years ago.

"More importantly, what measures will he bring forward to address the needs of those on hospital waiting lists? I refer to those who are suffering. What steps will he take to help those who face the dreadful choice each week of providing for the needs of their families or bringing their children to their local GPs? I refer to those who are on the margins, beyond the current qualifying limits for medical cards."

The Taoiseach claimed waiting times had been reduced and that hospital activity shows a likely increase of one third in such activity over the lifetime of the Government. He said additional beds have been opened in many of the health board areas, 568 extra in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area. "I was also asked about medical cards. We had a higher proportion of medical cards when unemployment was almost 20% in this country, but things have changed, thankfully," stated the Taoiseach.

Ó Caoláin said the Taoiseach had given no comfort to the 27,000 people who remain on hospital waiting lists. "Children must wait up to six months while adults wait 12 months to qualify for consideration for the treatment purchase fund. This is akin to serving a sentence. The Taoiseach should not claim we are all so better off today that fewer people need medical cards. Will the Taoiseach raise the medical card threshold to a realistic figure to address this suffering in society? That is the least he can do if he actually means his claim last Sunday of honouring the Proclamation's ideal of 'cherishing all the children of the nation equally'".

The Taoiseach said the Government is "committed to extending the numbers of people with medical cards".

"The Taoiseach cannot have it both ways. He cannot claim that less people qualify because there is less unemployment and also claim he wants to extend qualification. Does he deny that those just above the disgracefully low income limit are in real hardship?" said Ó Caoláin.