Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

Nobody disputes the fact that there should be intergenerational solidarity and that we should support those more in need of private health insurance as they grow older and become more dependent on the health service. The key point, however, is that more people are giving up private health insurance. The Minister has a proposal with regard to implementation of a universal health insurance policy, but while he is pursuing this agenda, people are leaving the health insurance market. More than 60,000 left the market in 2011. I do not blame all the decisions made by the Minister for this. Many have done so because of the financial difficulties being faced by families. However, the decisions made by the Minister have encouraged some to give up private health insurance. The difficulty is that there is grave uncertainty. Nobody is sure how much private health insurance will cost this year or next year and there is the promise of a universal health insurance system at some stage down the road in nirvana time. Many, however, will be forced to give it up in the meantime and this will place huge pressure on public services which are already overwhelmed.

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