Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Government promised a White paper on universal health insurance "early in its term". That was the phrase used when this proposal was first mooted. When will the White Paper be published? To be specific, will that be before the end of this year? Within the next three odd months, when can we expect legislation to be published? Will it be one item of legislation or will it be a number of items? Has the Minister any idea of how this matter will present in the time ahead? Will the White Paper include financial projections? This is an important question. Are these items in preparation and will this entire matter be taken into account in the spending review that I presume is under way in the Minister's Department in advance of early December's budget? Is it as immediate and presenting as that?

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