Dr. Fergal Lynch:

There are two other issues I want to deal with: the publication of the White Paper on universal health insurance, UHI, and, in response to some of Deputy Byrne's questions, the national children's hospital. We are working intensively on the publication of the White Paper. Much of this type of work has to be done under the radar before one produces the paper because of its technical nature. At the moment we are looking at different models for delivery of a UHI system. The Minister has made clear that it is not simply a case of grafting the Dutch system or any other onto the Irish system. We are examining the legal and financial implications of that at the moment. That is the first stream of work under the White Paper. The second is the basket of services - that is, precisely what services will be covered and at what cost - and the third is the exact approach to financing. Someone asked if this is to be covered by universal health insurance, general taxation or a combination of both. We are working intensively on those issues and will produce that White Paper as rapidly as we possibly can.