Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister's reply. The provision of universal health insurance is a key Government commitment and the established implementation body is wide-ranging, drawing on a cross-section of expertise. Is it charged with implementing universal health insurance of some form or other or might it state its belief to be that universal health insurance based on the criteria laid down in the programme of Government would not work? The Minister commented on the Dutch model and the group is looking also at the German model and elsewhere. Are there overall instructions to bring forward a universal health insurance policy, or has the group the authority to state it does not believe a universal health insurance system, as proposed by the Minister, as has evolved in Holland, is suitable or practical for the Irish health system as traditionally established and funded?

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