Seamus Healy TD—Leaders Questions Thursday April 10
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Minister Brendan Howlin , Labour, holds the second most senior economic ministry.
At leaders questions, Seamus Healy TD took the Labour Party to task for bringing in regressive Budgets which hit the poor harder than the rich (See ESRI Report on recent budgets http://www.esri.ie/UserFiles/publications/QEC2013Win_SA_Callan.pdf)
The 2014 budget was more unfair to the poor than the FF/Green budgets. He sought the restoration of the respite grant for carers, cuts in home heating allowances and child benefit. He called for increased taxes on the 10,000 who earn on average 595,000 per year each (Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan in reply to a parliamentary question on Oct 3, 2012). Deputy Healy pointed out that the total gross financial assets of households (324 Billion) are now back above the peak 2006 level (Table 3 Institutional Sector Accounts Central Statistics Office 2013)
The bulk of these assets are held by the top 10% of the population (all those with mortgages and/or credit card debt have negative financial assets- houses, farms and business premises are not financial assets). Deputy Healy sought that a wealth tax be placed on very large financial assets of the super-rich.
The arrogant response of Minister Howlin (standing in for Eamonn Gilmore) was to describe the question as “drivel” and to accuse Deputy Healy of proposing “fantasy taxes” He suggested that an increase in income tax on those on 595,000 would not yield significant revenue (Conservative friends of the rich have been making this argument for centuries) . He claimed that the local property tax which leaves the financial assets of the wealthy untouched and applies to the unemployed was an adequate response.
Any reasonably numerate person can calculate that an extra tax on the total of 5.95 Billion earned each year by the top 10,000 income recipients and on the 324 billion in financial assets would bring significant extra revenue to the state. Howlin and the Labour Party do not want to listen. They attack the poor and those on middle incomes instead. That is why the Labour Party is heading for wipe-out and oblivion.
Seamus Healy TD
Irish Examiner Friday April 11 Juno McEnroe
Independent TD Seamus Healy yesterday called on the Government to introduce an asset or wealth tax in the next budget.
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, Mr Healy pointed to ESRI findings that the last budget had the greatest impact on low-income groups.
Labour had reneged on election pledges in 2011 and cut payments for the vulnerable, including child benefit, he said.
“It made promises with full knowledge of the situation in 2011. The assets of the super rich are back above peak levels in 2006, according to the Central Statistics Office,” Mr Healy said.
He called on the Coalition to introduce a wealth tax on those who earn over €595,000 a year.
Brendan Howlin, the public expenditure minister, rejected his criticism and said the TD engaged in “fantasy” taxes.
Minister James Reilly has approved further cuts of €619m and the reduction of 2,600 jobs in the health service this year.
This is on top of €3bn in cuts and the reduction of 11,000 jobs over the last few years. These cuts have devastated the health service, closed beds, put more people on trolleys and took medical cards from sick and elderly people.
South Tipperary General Hospital will be hit by a further €1.7m in cuts and thousands more will lose their medical cards.
More pressure will be heaped on South Tipperary General Hospital, having already lost ¼ of its budget and upwards of 200 staff over recent years.
Staff at the hospital are working above and beyond the call of duty every hour of every day. The hospital service across the Country is at breaking point.
These cuts must be reversed.
The public are entitled to a quality health service, delivered in modern surroundings and not in “third world” conditions on trolleys in hospital corridors.
Medical Card holders too are bracing themselves for withdrawal of thousands of Medical Cards this year. Sick and elderly people are being targeted by the Government for withdrawal of their Medical Cards.
Persons with severe medical conditions, including Cancer, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy and Motor Neurone Disease who require on-going medical treatment are having their medical cards withdrawn and refused.
Further cuts to income limits for the over 70’s will see thousands lose their medical cards.
Our health is our wealth. It is time for this Government to call a halt to the onslaught out health service.
Government Politicians in Tipperary especially Ministers of State Alan Kelly and Tom Hayes have particular responsibility to protect our hospitals and our medical card holders.
Seamus Healy T.D.
Targeting of Medical Card Holders
Deputy Healy questions the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore regarding Medical Card reviews, and the removal of discretionary Medical Cards from patients with Cancer and Motor Neuron Disease.
Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent): When will the Government stop terrorising the sick and elderly across this country? The Government’s austerity budget of this year has targeted the withdrawal of 40,000 existing medical cards from the sick and elderly across the country. That policy is being implemented on the Government’s behalf by the Health Service Executive. It is not possible for me to overstate the fact that the sick and elderly are traumatised and in daily fear of losing their medical cards. The postman or postwoman, who has always been a welcome sight for the elderly, is now a source of anxiety in case he or she is bringing that dreaded white envelope that states that one is under review and gives the threat of one’s medical card being withdrawn.
Let us be clear what is happening. The sick and elderly are being targeted by the Government to pay banks and bondholders and to protect the 10,000 top earners in this country, who each earn on average €595,000 per year. These medical card holders are being specially and specifically targeted. They are in their 60s, 70s, 80s and even 90s. Their cards are not due to be reviewed. They hold current, fully valid medical cards assessed and approved by the Health Service Executive with expiry dates up to 2020, but they are now being punished to satisfy the greed of bankers and bondholders. Does the Tánaiste think this is fair, and will he do anything about it? Has he or the Government any compassion for the sick and elderly?
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Seán Barrett (Ceann Comhairle; Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
I thank Deputy Healy.
Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Will the Tánaiste immediately instruct the Health Service Executive to desist from punishing and hounding the elderly?
It has always been the case – I will finish with this – that persons with medical conditions that require urgent or ongoing medical treatment have qualified for discretionary medical cards. That practice has now stopped. Persons with cancer diagnoses and with, for instance, motor neuron disease are now being disqualified from eligibility for the discretionary medical card. I am sure the Tánaiste believes that is unfair also. I ask him to ensure that such a practice stops and that the Health Service Executive is instructed to ensure that these patients get their discretionary medical cards.
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Eamon Gilmore (Tánaiste; Minister, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
There are more persons today with medical cards than at any time in the history of the State.
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Tell that to those who are looking for one.
Eamon Gilmore (Tánaiste; Minister, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
There are currently 50%—–
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Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Men.
Eamon Gilmore (Tánaiste; Minister, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
—–who have medical cards. This is at a time when, as we are all aware, there has been extreme pressure on the public finances.
It has always been the case that medical cards are reviewed upon renewal. The Government’s approach is that medical card applications should be looked at sympathetically. The financial circumstances of individuals and their medical needs are taken into account.
We have all had experience of individual cases that, from time to time, have had to be pursued with the HSE about the issue of a medical card, but I assure Deputy Healy there is no targeting of any medical card holders. The Government is clearly determined that the medical needs of persons in this country are met. That is why we have worked so hard to restore the country’s public finances so that we can continue to meet the needs of those who need medical cards and, as I stated, there are more medical cards under this Government than were ever issued in the history of the State.
Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
The Tánaiste almost boasts that the number of medical cards have increased. So they have, but, of course, that is far from an achievement. That is, in fact, an indictment of the Government. It is an indictment of the austerity policies that have driven employees out of work, that have driven incomes down and that have put applicants under medical card limits that are most stringent and have already been reduced this year. Far from being an achievement, this is an indictment of the austerity policies of the Government and it is certainly not anything to boast about.
The Tánaiste has engaged in the usual practice. He has not answered the question. I asked him specifically about medical cards being reviewed which are not for review and about discretionary medical cards for particular cases. He has chosen not to answer those questions. Of course, that is the usual tactic in this Chamber. The Tánaiste may very well get away with that here in the rarefied atmosphere of the Dáil Chamber but he certainly will not get away with it when he knocks on doors for local and European elections next year.
Seán Barrett (Ceann Comhairle; Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
I thank Deputy Healy.
Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
I also want to ask the Tánaiste when the medical card income limits will be reviewed and increased. Whether or not he knows it, they have not been increased since 2006. In fact, some of these limits – including that pertaining to travel to work, which is discriminatory towards those living in rural areas where no public transport is available – have worsened over the past 12 months. I ask the Tánaiste to immediately instruct the HSE to ensure that the sick and elderly are not targeted and that medical problems are dealt with on a discretionary basis, particularly for cancer and motor neuron disease cases.
Eamon Gilmore (Tánaiste; Minister, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
It is perfectly clear that Deputy Healy raised this issue to make a political point and a political charge against the Government, particularly the Labour Party.
Eamon Gilmore (Tánaiste; Minister, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
I want to answer it in that fashion. The Deputy says we have targeted medical card holders. He wants to give the impression that the Government is taking medical cards from people. I have told the Deputy that it is a fact that more medical cards have been issued under this Government than has ever happened before.
Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
The Tánaiste should deal with the specific cases.
Eamon Gilmore (Tánaiste; Minister, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
I cannot deal with specific cases unless the Deputy provides me with the detail. If the Deputy wishes to give me the detail of specific cases—–
An Ceann Comhairle:
This is Leaders’ Questions. The Deputy can put questions to the Minister for Health.
Workers & Unemployed Action 