Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Members who contributed to the debate and for their viewpoints on this issue. Fianna Fáil tabled this motion because we believe the cost of private health insurance is a problem. There is no doubt but that families are finding it difficult to maintain health cover or are cancelling their policies. We can argue about the current state of the economy and how we got there but health insurance inflation is not the direct result of the difficulties in our economy. There are other reasons for the major increases in health insurance premiums, one of which is Government policy. Regardless of the difficulties in our economy, Government has, through its policies, interfered in the health insurance market by way of legislation and-----

See this speech in context