Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Every party supports tax relief for films and other things such as urban renewal which have all been worthy schemes that have achieved fantastic results. We do not, however, seem to be capable of supporting, through tax measures, sensible investment in the health care system. If we can attract investment into the health service through private financing we would be very foolish not to consider such opportunities. We should only support them if they suit a public hospital system because it would not be sustainable in every situation.

At the moment private hospitals are emerging in various places completely outside the public hospital system. This is a measure whereby the public and private systems can work closely together to provide services for patients and the conversion of up to 1,000 private beds for use by public patients is just such a measure.

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