Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I understand that the VHI is not in an arrangement with any group that is tendering to operate co-located hospitals. As I said earlier, and as Deputy O'Sullivan accepted, the focus of the VHI will be on building up the reserves and achieving a critical mass with regard to authorisation. Naturally, having achieved authorisation, it is equally important — and in fact mandatory — for the VHI to ensure that the reserves are maintained to keep that authorisation and work within the regulatory framework. I oppose the amendment.

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