James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

With regard to the comments made on people leaving the health insurance market, there is no doubt families trying to afford to take out insurance are feeling pressure. However, it must be stated the results of surveys which have shown that up to 700,000 people will leave the health insurance markets reflect the results of surveys undertaken in the past which showed similar figures but which never materialised. Sometimes the wording of surveys needs to be examined.

I was critical of the levy on insurance premiums because I did not see it as leading towards what was required - a proper risk equalisation scheme. For a period of years we have had the levy, with promises of things to come, but there has been no delivery. In the short nine months in which we have been in power we have put before the market a risk equalisation scheme. It has been passed by the Cabinet and legislation will enact it into law. People can see what risk equalisation will mean for the market which needs a year's advance notice to address any changes required in premiums and insurance packages offered and we have provided for this. The key point is that this is the final year of the levy. The levy is about fairness to those individuals who when they were young and well supported those who were older. They now have the right to expect the same and we owe them that courtesy. That is what the levy is about.

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