The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has announced major changes to the Government's decision to end the automatic medical-card entitlement for people over the age of 70.

Speaking during a hastily arranged press conference this morning, Mr Cowen announced a huge increase in the income thresholds that it plans to impose on the scheme.

The original threshold was €240-a-week for a single person and €480-a-week for a couple, but the Taoiseach said this morning that the Government had decided to raise these figures to €700 and €1,400 respectively.

He also confirmed that only those applying for over-70s medical cards after January 1st will have to face a means test.

Current medical-card holders who exceed the new thresholds will be asked to voluntary notify the HSE about their circumstances.