Angry Fianna Fail councillors piled the pressure on the Taoiseach last night by joining the clamour to have the controversial medical cards decision reversed.

The councillors gathered at a hastily-convened meeting in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, yesterday, which they found out about by text message.

There was scathing criticism of the decision to end the automatic entitlement to medical cards for the over-70s as announced in last week's budget at the closed session which lasted four hours.

Even as they gathered in the foyer of a Ballinasloe hotel, the councillors were approached by a couple of elderly locals who left them in no doubt as to their feelings on the issue.

"It's a disgrace to do such a thing to the elderly and I told them so," said one lady who did not want to be named.

Junior Health Minister John Moloney arrived shortly before the councillors were due to meet. He said he had come to the meeting at the request of the Taoiseach to listen to the councillors' concerns.

Fears

Behind closed doors, up to 50 councillors told of the pressure they had come under from their constituents and of the anger being felt right around the country.

Many expressed grave fears over the effects of the controversy at the polls in next year's local elections.

There was even criticism of Mr Cowen himself and of the overall leadership of the party at the manner in which such an obvious 'banana skin' had been adopted as government policy in the budget.

Cavan Co Councillor John Paul Feeley told the Irish Independent that in his opinion the decision had to be reversed immediately. He also called on Health Minister Mary Harney to resign -- a decision that was necessary if the Fianna Fail party was to retain any credibility with the electorate.

"I don't think people will be satisfied until it is reversed. The whole thing calls into question the leadership of the organisation and last time I checked, Brian Cowen was the leader," said Cllr Feeley.

He added: "The people and the membership of the party are up in arms. Our most-loyal supporters are saying they will never vote for Fianna Fail again."

Galway City Councillor Mary Leahy, who was unable to attend the meeting, said she had personally contacted Tanaiste Mary Coughlan to tell her of the outrage felt in Galway and, she believed, across the country, at what she termed "an attack on elderly people".

"I'm calling on the government to abandon this very-misinformed plan to means test older people to determine their entitlement to medical cards", said Cllr Leahy.

Chairperson of the Fianna Fail Councillors Forum, Deirdre Forde, told the Irish Independent that all FF councillors had received hundreds of calls and e-mails on the issue from angry members of the public.

"They are disgusted at this decision, particularly as it is coming at a time when they can least do without the medical card," she said.

Cllr Forde warned: "This is just the first salvo and it's no flash in the pan.

"We're running into local elections and we want to be confident that Brian Cowen is listening to us. We need to address this right away".

The meeting agreed a motion calling for the decision on medical cards as announced in the budget to be reversed in its totality.

After four hours of repeated criticism of the measure, the executive of the Fianna Fail Councilors Forum met separately to draft a statement.

When they returned after half an hour to have the statement ratified by the general meeting, there was some concern from councillors that it was not strong enough.

The statement, which was eventually agreed, made no reference to the motion, but said: "The Fianna Fail National Councillors Forum expressed their anger that there would be any possibility of anyone losing their entitlement to the over-70s medical card.

"Following communication with the Taoiseach this evening, the FF National Councillors Forum urge him to re-address the budget proposals immediately in light of our members' views".

Afterwards, Mr Moloney confirmed that he would be meeting the Taoiseach this morning to convey to him the concerns of the councillors at the meeting.

Mr Moloney said he appreciated their anger as he himself had received a lot of calls on the matter.

He added that he was happy that the councillors had accepted that the Taoiseach needed space to deal with the issue.

- Brian McDonald