There was an overwhelming response to Fine Gael’s survey asking the Government to retain the medical card for the over 70s, which was conducted across much of the country last weekend. Councillor Jarlath Munnelly, who was himself involved in the petition in Ballina, described the response as “overwhelming”.
Cllr Munnelly, who represents the Ballina electoral area, said that at one stage, people were queing up to sign the petition. “In the space of about one hour, almost 200 people signed the petition. The issue of axing the automatic right to a medical card for the over 70s is something that the general public feel very strong on. I have never seen a response like this to an issue before.”
Cllr Munnelly claimed that the response to the petition in other parts of Mayo was the same. “Clearly, the people who signed the Fine Gael petition were not just Fine Gael supporters. The general public, across the political divide, feel very strongly about this cut.”
Cllr Munnelly says that the signatures collected are being sent to the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance, to show them the disapproval felt from people in and around Ballina to this issue.
