Mr. Jim Dowdall:

In October 2012 and in February last, we spoke to the committee about the looming crisis for health insurance customers and we painted a picture of what would happen if Government did not change its approach. Matters, far from improving, have got even worse with the short-sighted decisions to cut the tax relief on health insurance, to increase the health insurance levy and to implement charging for public beds.

Nothing would be easier than to sit here and condemn the Department and the Minister for these failed policies, but it would fall on deaf years. There is an opportunity. In a representative democracy such as ours, the Executive should be accountable to the Oireachtas and the members, as a health committee. In a recent debate on Seanad abolition, much play was made on improving the powers of committees and of empowering legislators to challenge, to demand answers and to demand change.