Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I will. I estimate that each of these beds would require a contribution of between €5,000 and €10,000 per week if these hospitals are to survive.

On this basis, does the Minister agree the cost to VHI and BUPA will be between €250 million and €500 million, rather than the €86 million to which she referred? Does she accept her plan will make it absolutely impossible for young families and elderly people to maintain their private health insurance? We will have plenty of shiny new private hospitals but people will be pushed out of the health insurance market. Such developments will come at a massive cost to private patients. The Minister must concede that when one takes into account other costs that will arise in regard to private health insurance, this plan will double premia within three years.

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