Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

Was it simply done for income compensation? The vested interests, certainly in this instance well represented on the frontbench, trump value for money considerations in Fine Gael.

The Fine Gael spokesperson on health now claims he is working on a universal health policy scheme. The primary beneficiaries would be, in the first instance, the comfortably well off with medical insurance. Although I accept there are benefits to all in a universal system, it is not a panacea as the NHS experienced resource problems too.

In any case, for better or for worse, the medical profession saw that idea off between 1946 and 1951 when a doctor or doctors forced the resignation first of Dr. Con Ward, as Parliamentary Secretary in charge of health, and five years later, the Minister, Dr. Noel Browne. I hope the Fine Gael policy will have an answer to the key question as to how high a price the medical profession in the IMO and the IHCA will demand to participate, a topic into which Deputy Reilly may have a special insight.

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