James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I contend that the reason 53% of the people in this country take out private health insurance is because they do not have any faith in the public system to deliver in a timely fashion. I do not wish to do a disservice to the late and very brave Susie Long but people do not want to find themselves in her situation. Otherwise, how could one explain the decision? Our hospitals are supposed to provide a system of free secondary health care but this a virtual system. It is not available to our citizens, who as a result, wait months and years for outpatient appointments.

As the Minister failed to answer, I remind her that this is the sixth time that she extended the deadline.

See this speech in context