A row has broken out between the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, and the Irish Medical Organisation over plans to issue 200,000 new doctor-only medical cards.
The minister has said there is no requirement for negotiations with GPs before issuing the new medical cards in April.
However, the IMO has said that while it does not want a fight with the minister, it had an agreement that talks would take place before the cards are issued.
The new cards were promised last November, when the Government's health spending plans for 2005 were announced.
The cards were to have been available from this month but the Department of Health has been advised by the Attorney General that legislation is needed first. The Tánaiste hopes the legislation will be in place by April.
Those eligible for the doctor-only care will be single people with a weekly income of not more than €191 and couples earning not more than €277. The cards will cover doctor-only care but not medicines.
