Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I note the Minister of State's reply but the Minister will be first to acknowledge, although perhaps not in the context of a direct response in the course of this debate, that the fact that the VHI does not have any plans in this regard in no way puts to bed the concerns of the Deputies who have spoken in the course of the discussion on this amendment. The VHI may very well present plans in the future or be tempted to take the course we as Opposition voices have highlighted, and there is absolutely nothing in the Bill that would prevent it from doing so. That is the critical point and it merits and requires further consideration by the Minister of State, who I note is in consultation with the official present. I hope they both recognise that plans at this point in time are in no way an assurance of intent in the future. Those are the assurances sought by the Deputies in this House.

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