Members of the Fianna Fβil parliamentary party are next week set to press the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, to increase the income limits for medical cardholders.
Privately a number of TDs expressed concern yesterday that the political benefits of this week's national health strategy launch would be partly over-shadowed by the row.
The Fianna Fβil TDs believe Mr Martin "took his eye off the ball" on medical cards during difficult negotiations with the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, over funding for the strategy.
"The average man in the street is not going to be conscious of the strategy and talk about triage nurses and GP centres. That doesn't gel with them. Medical cards do," one deputy said.
In addition, there is some irritation amongst some members of the parliamentary party that the Minister did not give them an advance briefing on the strategy document.
Concern about the issue could rise substantially over the coming days when Fianna Fβil TDs return to their constituencies and hold clinics over the weekend.
"I personally am very disappointed. I will be looking for an extension of the eligibility limits. I had hoped that there would have been progressive increases," Wicklow TD Mr Dick Roche told The Irish Times.
Another TD, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "The health strategy is one thing, but there is nothing stopping Fianna Fβil coming forward with its own proposals before the election. We will not be facing into the election without this issue being resolved. I would be concerned if this was the final throw of the dice, but it is not."
However, some were supportive. Cork North Central TD Mr Noel O'Flynn said "tremendous improvements" had been made in services and more would come.
"He has not taken anything off anybody. He is trying to improve the situation. It may take longer to do that we would like but the strategy is a step in the right direction," he said.
The reaction of the Irish Medical Organisation and the St Vincent de Paul Society to the decision not to increase eligibility limits has caused concern amongst some deputies.
However, Laois/Offaly TD Mr Sean Fleming believed the overwhelmingly positive reaction from health workers to the 10-year plan would, in time, prove more important.
Health boards review income eligibility limits every three years. Some TDs believe that board chief executives are too reluctant to offer "hardship" cards as they are entitled to do under law.
The Department of Health has agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation that 1.5 million people can be covered by medical cards, though currently just 1.1m are.
Facing angry questions in the Dβil from members of the Opposition, Mr Martin said the number would be higher except for the fact that 300,000 extra people were now working.
He insisted he had to prioritise spending next year on cutting waiting lists, expanding community care and improving facilities for the mentally ill.
Padraig Yeates, Industry and Employment Correspondent adds:
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has joined the chorus of condemnation of the Government's decision not to widen people's access to medical cards. ICTU assistant general secretary Ms Joan Carmichael said it struck at the very foundations of social partnership.
The ICTU called for the progressive extension of medical cards to all PAYE workers and their families in its pre-budget submission this month.
Yesterday Ms Carmichael said the decision not to improve access to medical cards would particularly hit the low paid and families with children.
"Congress, along with the other social partners, put a lot of work into the medical card review group, which recommended that the income thresholds for medical cards should be increased from January 1st, 2002," she said.
SIPTU vice-president Mr Jack O'Connor also condemned the move and said it was another example of the Government refusing to use the wealth generated by workers to increase the nation's basic living standards.
