|
|
Senior citizens "rock"
political system
22.10.08
A BUNCRANA councillor
yesterday called for a universal public health
system saying the medical card fiasco showed the
Government was "out of touch" with the people.
Sinn Féin Councillor, Pádraig MacLochlainn described
yesterday's major concessions on the medical card
entitlements for the over 70s as a "significant
climbdown". He said it was clear that massive public
pressure led to the climbdown.
"This decision comes from a Government reeling after
the wave of anger which hit them in the wake of the
Budget.
"After creating all this anxiety it is now unclear
whether the Government will make any savings from
the scheme at all. The original decision should
simply be reversed and universal provision for over
70s restored," said Cllr MacLochlainn. |
He commended the senior
citizens for "making their voices heard so loudly
and so clearly" in the last week.
"They have rocked the political system and it is
clear that massive public pressure led to this
climbdown," he added.
Cllr MacLochlainn urged the public to continue to
apply pressure on the Government to reverse other
measures such as the decision to increase class
sizes.
"The fact is that there are many other revenue
raising options open to the |
 |
Government but the
policies that they pursue led them to target the
most vulnerable in our society.
"Sinn Féin, in our pre-budget submission, made a
number of revenue raising proposals, which, if
implemented, would have raised enough money to
ensure that the most vulnerable in society were
protected."
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil Senator Cecilia Keaveney
welcomed the Taoiseach's decision to roll back on
the scheme and introduce vastly higher income
ceilings for pensioners to qualify.
“I’m delighted that such major changes have been
made to the medical card scheme for the over 70s and
I thank all those who contacted me on this matter,"
she said.
To read some local people's reaction to Budget 2009
click here . |
|
