Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are self-employed persons who would prefer to pay into a system at a higher rate in order that, in the event of something happening ten or 20 years down the road, they have some cover. They do not have that option. Their only option for any type of cover is private health insurance, private insurance to protect their employment or whatever. They do not have an option to say they would pay at the same rate as their employees. It is not that they can opt out.