Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

The interruptions in this debate are quite interesting. We are managing to interact about our different proposals, although I accept the Chair must do his job.

My overall concern with the legislation is that it is not well designed and is very cumbersome. Using a levy system to implement community rating and risk equalisation is not ideal and even the Minister admits it is an interim measure to fill a gap following the decision of the Supreme Court. Obviously, it will affect people who have health insurance and there is a concern that it will cause increases in premia, which will cause particular hardship for the unfortunate people who are being hit by practically everything at present, including the levies introduced in the budget. People who are above the income guidelines to qualify for medical cards find it very difficult to pay for private health insurance but feel they must have it because of the difficulty in accessing the public system. Patients are being told every day by general practitioners that if they pay for a treatment privately, they will get it in a week but otherwise they will have to wait for months on the waiting list. Despite the National Treatment Purchase Fund's comments about waiting lists, much of the waiting time is about getting a referral from the general practitioner.

Notice taken that 20 Members were not present; House counted and 20 Members being present,

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