Mr. Dónal Clancy:

The only presentation we got on the UHI was last Friday by officials from the Department of Health. It was a very informative but short presentation. That was our first engagement on universal health insurance. We expect a White Paper will be produced, etc. However, we believe that as a market, we should be represented on the universal health insurance work group.

Senator Crown asked about particular drugs that are coming into the market. We have a standard procedure for assessing all medical technologies for efficacy, etc. That goes through a medical advice panel and we take their advice. People far better qualified than I am make that decision. On the point about market efficiency, I believe there is an efficiency question. As Mr. O'Dwyer said earlier, some 80% of the market is set by the VHI and that definitely influences across the board. However, on the particular efficacy and adaption point mentioned by Senator Crown, that would definitely go before a medical advice panel and that would be it.

On the €120 million, there is no quid pro quo in my view. There was a suggestion that the price increase had some quid pro quo. There is no relationship because what is referred to as €125 million - if I can say that - relates to a payment given for us to support the current dilemma the Government is in and there is no relationship on that.

On the claims lag time, the time it takes to get a bill from a public hospital is on average above 90 days while a private hospital is around 30 days. Without a doubt they are treated the same once they get in the door. The problem is getting them in the door.

Roscommon hospital was mentioned. UHI is not defined and Mr. Muiry can pick up on that. However, we would like to be in a position to ensure that our members are treated in the most appropriate setting. We believe that places such as Roscommon hospital would be appropriate settings for certain procedures and obviously in other cases where they are not centres of excellence they would not be appropriate. However, UHI will dictate how that will work.