THE GOVERNMENT last night defeated, by a comfortable 81 to 74 votes, a Fine Gael motion calling for a reversal of the controversial decision to withdraw the automatic entitlement to the medical card for those over 70.
Independents Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rae voted with the Government, while former Fianna Fáil TD Joe Behan and Finian McGrath voted against.
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, suffering a fractured leg, arrived on crutches to vote with the Government.
During a rowdy debate interrupted by persistent heckling and insults, the Government insisted that 95 per cent of people with medical cards would be able to retain them.
Minister of State for Health John Moloney praised Minister for Health Mary Harney and claimed the confusion was "set in the main by the Opposition".
He had stood to support the budget "and I still do".
"It was an attempt to separate those who could afford medical care from those who couldn't for the very valid reason of trying to provide funding for new services," said Mr Moloney.
Tony Gregory (Ind, Dublin Central) said the elderly had shown the real meaning of people power and he hoped other vulnerable sections would learn from this.
The Government "bails out the bankers and victimises the elderly. And of course there's always room for the €70 million greyhound racing fund".
He said the pensioners had achieved in six days what the social partners had failed to do.
The people did not want a two-tier health system but equality for all based on need.
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly, who was repeatedly criticised over his role in the 2001 deal for GPs, said that what was introduced in 2001 "as a political stroke has proven to be a really important social and public health gain".
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said "this Government is doomed". It had chosen to use the elderly as a weapon, said Mr Kenny, adding: "this Judas response to the elderly will now be your epitaph".
Róisín Shortall (Lab, Dublin North West) referred to comments that Mr Ahern would not have allowed such a decision to be made.
"He understood people and he understood human nature and that is a trait not inherited by his successor," she said.
Minister of State for Older People Máire Hoctor, who had been loudly heckled by protesters, was sorry that so many people felt the need to turn out to protest when more than nine out of 10 people would retain their medical card.
Minister of State Martin Mansergh, who sharply criticised Fine Gael, said the universal entitlement, while a laudable step, had proved a "bridge too far, achieved only at an excessive cost, a cost that now has to be revisited".
Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan apologised for the fear and hurt caused.
He added however that "no one in politics seeks to be unpopular" but sometimes in Government "you have to make unpopular decisions".
Mary White (Green, Carlow-Kilkenny) said "we accept our share of the blame".
She said however she would "take no lectures" from the Opposition, criticising previous comments by Labour.
Liz McManus (Lab, Wicklow) retorted that the Green party was "craven, dishonest despicable".
Andrew Doyle (FG, Wicklow) said that Independent TD Finian McGrath (Dublin North-Central) had had a €250 million deal with the Government and he asked what saving they made since he no longer supported the Government.
He said: "It's not a sin to make a mistake. It's a mistake not to acknowledge it and rectify it."
Michael Ring (FG, Mayo) congratulated people for turning out to protest and "give the two fingers" to the Government, to applause from the public gallery.
