James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

We do not have to go too far back in history to find that rises in premiums in recent years were the most astonishing rises of all. I want a situation where the costs to the insurers are examined and reduced in a meaningful way and, therefore, the cost of premiums should be reduced as well. I do not suggest that some of the changes we have made will not cause upward pressure, I say that upward pressure can be mitigated by reducing the cost of care.

I hope the Deputy did not suggest in his earlier comments that we subsidise private insurance companies. Surely the public system is entitled to recoup the cost in the same way as the consultant? If someone chooses to see the consultant privately, they will be a private patient in the hospital as well; that is the rule. If he chooses to see the consultant as a public patient, the hospital will treat him as a public patient.

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