James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A number of issues must be considered. First, if UHI is in place in four years, and we intend that will be the case, it will be mandatory, as Deputy Kelleher is always keen to point out. Therefore, the need for incentives does not arise. Second, in the short timeframe that is available, it is difficult to see how we could do it, but we will examine it. Third, it would not be possible to have an incentive put in place now that impacts on UHI when it is introduced, because UHI is about equity and people being charged according to their means and being supported according to their lack of means.

The other problem with this is for those who have been working abroad and have returned here. They might have paid insurance when they were abroad so it would be necessary to accommodate that if one was to do something. Their commitment to insurance exists and they should not be penalised for having left the insurance in this country when they were not resident here for four or five years. We will have a look at it but it will not be so easy-----