Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Is the Minister aware of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children's statement earlier that she has been advised 300,000 people affected by the Supreme Court ruling are likely to claim? Has the Minister estimated the cost of these claims? He commented on 21 February that the cost would be approximately €500 million. However, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children's statement indicates a much higher figure of between €1 billion and €3 billion. Has the Minister had an opportunity to examine the costing? He stated prior to the Financial Services Ireland lunch that the Supreme Court ruling would result in lower spending elsewhere in the health service. He contradicted himself in his reply in regard to 2005 by stating he will introduce a Supplementary Estimate. I would like him to reconcile those statements. Has he identified the areas in which there will be lower spending? When is that likely to occur?

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