Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

Going back over the history lesson briefly, the insurance market has been opened up. Does the Minister not agree? There are now other health insurers providing cover. This has led to difficulties in the context of risk equalisation and cherry picking but, fundamentally, the bottom line is that premiums are going through the roof continually and the decisions the Government made in the budget for 2012 will increase premiums for hard-pressed families, whether the Minister likes it or not. It will happen or insurers will not be able to afford to provide cover.

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