Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Despite that increasing cost the number of insured has fallen by approximately 170,000 over the same period. In the Government's view, taking into account the headline principle of exiting the bailout and moving towards universal health insurance, fairness is the issue. The Government has decided that a subsidy of €200 per adult will be available for all adults across the board who take out private health insurance, and €100 in respect of their children, to a maximum of €600. Every person who takes out private health insurance is entitled to that subsidy from the Government and will get it. That allows people to choose, if they wish, to have more expensive health plans. The relief given applies to everybody across the board. The figures produced for the Department of Finance and for the Minister to bring to Government come from the Revenue Commissioners who pay out the tax relief on a case-by-case basis, and their figures are accurate.

See this speech in context