Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for her positive response. I am concerned, however, by the degree of subterfuge adopted by the HSE and the games it is playing with the Government with regard to the imminent changes to the executive.

Would the Minister of State mind if I pointed her in the direction of where the HSE could find some of the moneys? An information note on HSE West, sought by a Labour councillor, stated its overall deficit by 30 June 2011 stood at €47.3 million. However, on the same date the total amount owed to HSE West by private health insurers, such as VHI and BUPA, was €61.1 million, of which €13.5 million was over 12 months old. After 12 months, an accounting procedure will write off 50% of all arrears. Public services are being delivered and subsidised by ordinary working people in the executive. The HSE has much to answer in this regard.

In her investigation into this matter, will the Minister of State establish why are the bad debts of private health insurers provided for when ordinary working people in the HSE have to bankroll the organisation, particularly coming into a difficult time for many families?

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