TAOISEACH Brian Cowen will attempt to quell growing unrest in Fianna Fail over medical cards before he visits China on Sunday.

As disquiet festers among backbenchers and grassroots, Mr Cowen departs for Beijing for five days. A Ministerial colleague said today there was “no question” of the Taoiseach staying in Ireland to deal with the continuing backlash from Tuesday’s Budget cuts.

“That's a ridiculous suggestion. You're not going to cancel a pre-planned trip to China because 20,000 well-paid people aren't going to get medical cards,” the Minister told this newspaper.

Mr Cowen and his Finance Minister Brian Lenihan are today said to be seething with opposition parties, and particularly Fine Gael health spokesperson James Reilly, over the negative publicity the new over-70s mean testing scheme has attracted.

Mr Reilly was heavily involved with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) when it negotiated the medical card scheme in 2001.

One government colleague told the Herald Mr Cowen has long believed the 2001 deal to give all over-70s free medical care was “one of the worst deals ever made”.

“It was only after announcing the package that any negotiation with the Irish Medical Organisation actually took place and as a result we're paying three times the average amount for a GP visit,” said the source.

“He believes it was a bad deal on day one, not now,” they added.

The Taoiseach is to lead a trade mission to China from Sunday next, in an effort to boost trade with the region.

He will also hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and attend an EU-Asia summit.

Representatives from more than 100 companies will travel with him.

The move has been criticised by opposition TDs who see it as running scared of the current controversy.

After first hinting at a climbdown and then dismissing one, the Government last night relaxed the stringent income threshold levels.

After a day of uproar in the Dail and on the airwaves, a “clarification” was issued stating new income guidelines.

Under this new set of rules, over-70s can qualify for a full medical card if they have a net weekly income of less than €480.60 for a couple or €240.30 for a single person.

The new rates announced by Ms Harney vary substantially from the original limits of €298 for a married couple and €201.50 for a single person.

Applicants for a GP-visit card will face a net income limit of €360.45 (single) or €720.90 (married).

The net income threshold for the new annual €400 Health Support Payment is unchanged at €650 for a single person and €1,300 for a couple.

The debacle is not just causing uproar among FF backbenchers, but is also understood to have caused huge friction between a number of Government ministers and the top brass.

Chief whip Pat Carey described a meeting yesterday between TDs and Mary Harney as “businessman-like”.

Some 34 TDs are understood to have spoken at the meeting.

A Government spokesperson also told the Herald this morning that Brian Lenihan never tried to make a scapegoat out of Mary Harney.

“It was a Government decision which is still fully supported by everyone,” he said.

“We know people have been confused by the information out there but most of it has been scaremongering.

“You have 140,000 people worrying but only around 20,000 will get nothing.

FF councillor for Dublin North Central, Deirdre Heany said this morning that the system was “very, very unfair”.

“I'm personally very disappointed with the move which has affected a very large number of over 70s.

“I feel that the change is a very, very welcome measure, however, there are still many many people who are getting caught by this, I think unfairly,” she said.

- Kevin Doyle