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

The Minister opposed it. He opposed the levy. The only way we can have community rating is through a transfer from people who are low risk to those who are high risk. That is the purpose of community rating and there must be a levy to do this. The Minister opposed the levy, which means that he opposed community rating. A levy is the only way the transfer can be made to those who need it most.

My party has a dilemma. We want and support community rating and intergenerational solidarity. We support the need for a vibrant health insurance market that is affordable to ordinary families. Every policy the Minister has brought forward in this House is the exact opposite of what he says he is trying to achieve. This is more shameful legislation, particularly when coupled with all of the other proposals the Minister has brought forward in hiking up the cost of private health insurance.

The final assault on private health insurance was the amazing attack by the Minister for Finance. I know the Minister for Health and the Department were not happy with it.

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