asked the Minister for Health the classes of persons from Ireland who are eligible for free health services in the EEC countries; and the classes of persons from other EEC countries who are eligible for full health services in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Health Services.
23.
Irish persons who have eligibility under EEC regulations are those who are insured under the Irish social welfare legislation or have contributory pensions under that legislation or the dependants of such persons. If the eligible Irish person is resident in another EEC country he is entitled to full medical services on the same basis as an eligible person in that country. If he is a short-term visitor to another EEC country his entitlement is confined to whatever urgent medical attention he may require.
A national of another EEC country who is insured under the social security legislation of that country or has a contributory pension under that legislation, or the dependants of such a person, has entitlement under the EEC regulations while in Ireland. If he is resident in Ireland he is entitled to the full range of Irish health services while if he is a short-term visitor to Ireland he is entitled to receive whatever urgent medical attention he may require.
The cost of services provided under the EEC regulations is the responsibility of the country where the person concerned is insured. This responsibility may be discharged between two countries by the country with the greater liability making a net payment or by an agreement to waive all payments by both countries.
Is the Minister aware of the situation whereby a non-contributory old-age pensioner who may have reason to visit another EEC country is not entitled to any health benefit in that country?
That is the position.
Would the Minister agree, then, that such an impoverished person would be at a disadvantage should he wish to visit another EEC country for the purpose, say, of seeing relatives? Can anything be done to remedy this situation? Is there not a serious disparity between entitlements for Irish people going abroad compared with people from other EEC countries in terms of the level of health services in each country?
That is as far as the regulations have gone.
But what about the situation of non-contributory old age pensioners?
There appears to be unfair discrimination as between contributory and non-contributory old age pensioners in this regard.
I have a particular case in mind and I am wondering whether the Minister can do anything to help a non-contributory old age pensioner who finds himself in difficulties in another country in regard to health services.
The matter could be dealt with only at European level.
This highlights another area of discrimination. Is the Minister aware that while a non-contributory old age pensioner from this country is not deemed to be eligible for health services abroad, a person in the diplomatic corps here who would be likely to be in receipt of a high income, is eligible apparently for general medical services and to be in possession of a medical card on foot of his insurability in his country of origin? In that sort of situation would it not be advisable to have the matter rectified as soon as possible? Will the Minister confirm that a member of the diplomatic corps is entitled to a medical card while he is here?
That would not be my responsibility. The question should be addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Can the Minister say whether he would be prepared to consider an application for a medical card on behalf of a member of the diplomatic corps?
That would not be my function.
Would the Minister be in favour of a health board granting a medical card to such a person?
That would be a matter of whether the person applying comes within the particular guideline.
Would the Minister make inquiries about the number of medical cards that have been supplied to members of the diplomatic corps?
If the Deputy puts down a question I will reply to it.
I do not want the medical cards taken from the diplomatic corps.
I do not want explanations from the Deputy. I will answer questions.
There are other people besides those in the categories Deputy O'Connell and Deputy Boland have been mentioning. I am not going as far afield. Persons from Tyrone who move to Donegal find, no matter what their income is, that they are entitled to all the free health services but they are not getting them. They have to establish their right to them. A person in the lower income bracket from Donegal who moves into Tyrone finds a different situation.
The situation is completely reciprocal. All the EEC countries receive from and afford each other the same facilities in this regard.
Is the Minister telling me that someone from the lower income bracket who leaves Donegal and moves into Tyrone will receive the same facilities?
I have indicated that the position is that any Irish person who has eligibility here under our social welfare legislation or contriburory pension has the same rights in the UK and vice versa.
Would the Minister make it clear and not keep it a secret?
It is in the answer I have read out. It will be in the Official Report.