Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would like to have the same certainty that the Minister has, which he outlined in his reply. We have yet to see the White Paper. The Minister's intent is laudable. I acknowledge his intent, but we differ as to the vehicle to give effect to what we share, the commitment to universal health care and access on the basis of need. There is a gap as to how it is to be achieved. We have no certainty on the Minister's position.

The Minister has spoken about this aspect on many occasions and now after 20 months in office, we have yet to see all of this spelled out in real and substantive terms. The IMPACT trade union did not present something it made up. It has employed considerable time and effort in evaluating the situation and engaging with people directly in the Netherlands. It is not good enough to dismiss its report outright. There must be a basis in factual terms to their concerns. This has been referred to by people within that system, interviewed on the national airwaves. I believe that acceptance of the subsection (e) that I proposed in amendment No. 1 offers the certainty of the clear declaration of intent that I believe is important, indeed essential as we move forward in engaging on this very important reform.

I took the time to try to find a way of improving a Bill to which I am not ideologically or in any other way committed. However, I want to see it improved to the best I can. I commend my amendment and I ask the Minister to reconsider it.