John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Perhaps I will have one minute or even 30 seconds to say that I agree with previous speakers.

Let us consider the situation when health insurance was first introduced. It was designed for the wealthiest 15% of society, it was not designed for 54%, as is now the case, because people have no confidence in the public health service which has been run down, especially by the Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fáil. The plans to co-locate will exacerbate that situation. As a result of the proposal before us, and due to co-location, we will have severe hikes in premiums. Let there be no doubt about that. As premiums increase, more and more people will not be able to pay them, and they will be forced back into the public health service which has been run down.

This makes no sense. The Government's health policy is a shambles. People know it is a shambles and the Government will reap its reward next month when we have an election on 24 May. The Government will see its health policy is a priority for people who will give the Government the thumbs down.

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