Mr. Dónal Clancy:

This is the dilemma. It may take four, five or even ten years, depending on the timescale. Today the chairman of the HIA said that in his experience the length of time to get UHI to market is considerably longer than the current forecast. In the meantime we can do nothing about it or we can incentivise the young and healthier to join. In my view, as a consumer it is in everybody's interest to join a community rated market. I accept that if it was to come in tomorrow or in the short term it would have a different perspective, but I think it will be in the longer-term future.

Mr. Muiry will address the UHI question separately. I will pick up on some other issues. We were asked numerous times about the committee. We highlighted it to the Minister and got responses along the lines that the universal health insurance committee was a rolling committee and that at an appropriate time we would be asked to join it. We are just wondering when that appropriate time is.