Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I apologise because I had to be elsewhere earlier. The jury is probably out on the Chairman's point that private health insurance subsidises the public system, as I am not sure whether anybody has established which system is subsidising which.

As Chairman of the committee on the future of healthcare, I want to say a very special thanks to Dr. de Buitléir who carried out the tasks set for him in an exemplary way. The report he produced was exceptionally comprehensive and thorough and I thank him for it. I also thank him for the very important role he is playing in fulfilling the expressed wishes of the committee with regard to this very important aspect of developing a universal single-tier healthcare system that will be available to all. I thank him very much for the work he has done.