Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Before the vote, I raised with the Tánaiste the question of possible legislation on voluntary health insurance. I wrote to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, who responded by letter recently. He stated:

Having examined the situation, on 25 January, the Commission launched a formal infringement procedure against Ireland for possible breach of Community Law, in particular of the Third Non-Life Directive (infringement procedure 2006/5023). The objective of this procedure is to obtain a change of the present rules in Ireland so as to ensure a level playing field and to restore fair competition in the Irish health insurance market.

Does the Government propose to introduce legislation arising from the comments of the Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Commissioner McCreevy, and the implications of the Commission President's reply?

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