Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to hear the delegates' thoughts on the new contract for GPs. I believe the last one which was called the fire brigade model was drawn up in 1970, but things have moved on very much since. Mr. Keegan alluded to the fact that people were living longer with chronic illnesses.

The idea has been expressed that in the future there will be no health insurance and that people will be seen on the basis of need rather than money. Do the delegates think this is possible, viable and realistic? I note their comments on technology. At this committee last week I brought up a technological matter with the Minister which had to do with the very poor broadband service in Bantry General Hospital. It is having a detrimental effect on the services the very good doctors there can offer. Do the delegates often come across similar issues? There is not only a question about the technology but also the lack of broadband, particularly in rural hospitals.