Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I move amendment No. 45:

In page 19, line 47, to delete "7F(8)(c)."." and substitute the following:

"7F(8)(c).

7H.---Where a registered undertaking effects a health insurance contract on or after the commencement of section 9 of the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 (including any renewal of such a contract entered into before that commencement), it shall, at the same time as effecting the contract, or as soon as is practicable thereafter, give---

(a) the policy holder, or

(b) the person to whom the registered undertaking issues the request for payment of the premium due under the health insurance contract, where that person is not the policy holder,

a statement in writing setting out---

(i) the premium payable under the contract in respect of each insured person before any deduction referred to in the definition of 'net premium' in section 2 is made from the premium, and

(ii) the net premium under the contract in respect of each insured person.".".

The aim of this amendment is to ensure that information is given to consumers. Companies will inform them of the gross premium before the deduction of any tax credit.

As the Ceann Comhairle was reading out all those amendments I felt as though we were in a church and my response was "Amen".

See this speech in context