Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Government's decision to hold a referendum. It is good for politics as it is important we are seen to give a sense of ownership to public policy. This is the deficit consecutive Governments over the past couple of decades have suffered from. It is positive there will be a public debate on this issue and that the people can have their say.

I ask the Leader to arrange at an early stage for a debate on health insurance and the Government's plan for universal health insurance. When we see the figure of some 66,000 families dropping out of paying for health insurance last year and the increase in waiting lists to which this is leading, as well as the fact those who still have insurance are now paying much higher premia, it is a very important issue. It is timely we would have a debate on it.