Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I expect the Minister, if she responds - as she should - to refer to her press statement of 25 June, which specifically referred to the European Commission decision. She stated: "The Government had already decided that the VHI should be in a position to attain authorisation as an insurance undertaking from the Financial Regulator and satisfy its prudential requirements as soon as possible." The Government had already put in place a legislative basis for this in the Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2008, and the timetable for achieving authorisation was, as she stated, adversely affected by the Supreme Court decision in July 2008 striking down the 2003 risk equalisation scheme.

We need the Minister to address these matters properly. The Commission had given approval to the interim scheme in the previous week - that is, the week before the Minister's statement on 25 June. Deputy Reilly is correct in his request to have this matter substantively addressed before we proceed from the first amendment validly before the House for consideration.

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