James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Health Insurance Act regulates how private health insurance is provided for those who choose to purchase it. Currently, the figure amounts to 46% of the population. This has always been a remarkable feature of our system, given that, in theory, everyone is entitled to free hospital care. Over a period covering several Governments people lost faith in the ability of the public service to deliver. Deputy Timmy Dooley is correct in that we must maintain the health insurance market while we move to a universal health insurance system. He was reasonable in his comments, but, needless to say, he slipped in a comment about the decisions of the Government. Nonetheless, I am sure he accepts that it is economic circumstances that determines whether people can afford to take out insurance. Without being overly partisan, he shares responsibility in that regard.

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