Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 7, line 22, after "dispose" to insert the following:

"(but only to an entity or person within the public service)".

This amendment has to do with subsidiaries of the VHI. If my amendment is agreed, the intention is that we would not allow the privatisation of any aspects of the business of the VHI or any subsidiary of the VHI. It is designed to ensure the power to dispose of shares in a subsidiary is limited to another entity within the public service. I had another concern but it is not incorporated in this amendment. In the event of a dispute, if a policy holder has a claim against the VHI, it appears from the section that the dispute would be against the subsidiary and not against the board. In that sense we have some concerns about the weakening of the position of the policy holder, but that is not specific to the amendment I am proposing. I propose this amendment to ensure we do not have a privatisation of aspects of the work of the VHI.

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