Dr. Donal de Buitléir:

Some press reports said everything will cost €6.5 billion. It will be €650 million at the end of the period. By the way, if things stay as they are, nothing will change and some of these costs will be there anyway because consultants' pay will have to be restored. The money coming from insurance companies is unstable as well. It is similar to corporation tax receipts. It would be foolish to bank on that continuing as permanent income. To say all that is lumped into the cost of this proposal is an exaggeration. A lot of that money will have to be paid out anyway. While there is a cost, the people are already paying for this. This would change the method by which they pay. When I get my annual bill from my health insurance company, which is due next month, I do not regard it is as voluntary. It would be a big risk for me to decide not to have health insurance anymore because one never knows what might happen. If, for example, that was transferred and my premium reduced, I would be content if my taxes went up a little to pay for it. There is an Exchequer cost to this but the Exchequer is not the whole story.