Oct 2008
Fine Gael National Press Office Press Release | |||||||||
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| Saturday 18th October 2008 | |||||||||
Reilly calls for cross-party support for Dáil motion to rescind 70s medical cards decision | |||||||||
Fine Gael Health Spokesman Dr James Reilly has on called on Government Deputies (Fianna Fáil, Greens and Independents Finian McGrath, Michael Lowry, & Jackie Healy Rae) to support the Fine Gael Dáil motion next Wednesday to rescind their decision to remove medical cards from over 70s pensioners . Dr Reilly welcomed the support of former Fianna Fáil Deputy Joe Behan who resigned from the Fianna Fáil party today because he cannot support the withdrawal of medical cards from the over 70s. "I call on more of his party colleagues to listen to their constituents, pensioners and their extended families, to impress upon Government Ministers the foolishness of this decision and to lobby them to rescind it. "This decision should never have seen the light of day and it reflects appallingly on the current Cabinet. Furthermore, Green Ministers Eamon Ryan, John Gormley and Trevor Sargent fully backed this decision with prior knowledge and information of weeks of pre-Budget Cabinet discussions. "We all understand the nature of politics but some policies are so wrong that even political allegiance cannot justify them. I am asking all Deputies to not just talk about conscience but to act on it. "Furthermore, I call on the pensioners of Ireland to lobby (via email and telephone) all their local Fianna Fáil TDs, Green TDs and Independents and leave them in no doubt that Ireland will not stand for this callous measure. |
