Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Late last year the Department of Health completed a review of the health services eligibility framework which is set out in the Health Act 1970. A draft Government memorandum sought approval to prepare the draft heads of a Bill. This was circulated to all Departments for observations in December 2010. This work has been suspended because we need ministerial guidance and clarification on the legislation required to give effect to the new approach to the delivery of health services envisaged in the programme for Government. The Minister for Health will respond to that in due course in dealing with universal health insurance, universal primary care and so on. It will come back but it will be on the basis of the new priorities reflected in the programme for Government as driven by the Minister for Health and his Ministers of State.

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