An increase of €10 in accident and emergency charges for patients without a doctor's referral is unjustified, the Labour Party has said.
The cost of an A&E visit has increased by 42 per cent since 2002.
Labour's health spokeswoman Ms Liz McManus criticised the Government's decision to proceed with from midnight tonight, particularly since no date has been set for the introduction of a proposed GP card and when no procedures had been put in place for the issuing of an additional 30,000 full medical cards.
"It is clear that Mary Harney has no understanding of the impact of the massive increases in medical costs on low income families," Ms McManus said.
"The cost of a visit to an Accident and Emergency Department (without a referral from your GP) will now be €55 representing an increase of €10. This follows a €5 increase last year from €40 to €45 and an €8.30 increase from 31.70 the year before.
"Since 2002, the cost of an A&E visit has been increased by 42 per cent. This is way in excess of the level of inflation and it means that A&E charges are now considerably in excess of fees charged by most GPs."
"The Labour Party does not believe that these increases are justified but if they were to be applied they most certainly should not be imposed until the free GP card system was also in place."
Ms McManus said it was "grossly unfair" to ask those on low incomes to carry the extra charges while still having to pay for GP visits.
She added that the Tánaiste and Minister for Health could only say in reply to a recent parliamentary question that she hoped the doctor visit card would come into operation "as soon as possible" in 2005, "subject to clarifying legislative and administrative issues".
"This suggests that there was little thought given to this issue prior to its announcement on estimates day as she has still no idea when the GP card will be introduced. If legislation is required there is likely to be a considerable delay," the Labour TD claimed.