Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Health has stated he will introduce the model of the money following the patient as part of the universal system of health insurance. He has started this process with the development of the new charging regime.

Opposition by its nature is about holding Government to account. That is fine and I have no problem with that but we have to be realistic as well. We cannot continue to have the public sector continuously subsidising the private sector. The reason many people have private health insurance is so they can call on it when they need it. It is interesting that younger, healthy people are leaving the system. We need to ensure every citizen has the same access to the health system that those who can afford private health insurance have at the moment. I commend the Bill to the House.