Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am always happy to share with Deputy Bannon, even if it means giving him an extra few seconds of my time. I am reminded that I have a Bill before the House, the Rights of Grandparents Bill 2013, which seeks to give more recognition to the role of grandparents in society. These are people from a generation that contributed to the building of our modern society, and I think of how these people could be celebrated during the centenary of the 1916 Rising. These are people from my parents' generation, the many hundreds and thousands of people who made a contribution to building the modern democracy we have in Ireland today. It is one of the reasons I support this legislation.

The purpose of this Bill is to adjust the risk equalisation credit with regard to health insurance. I refer to the Minister for Health's comments for a recent article in The Irish Times, which referenced the fact that we must retain the solidarity that exists between the young and healthy and the elderly who may require more health care. This legislation sets out to make private health insurance affordable, although we know that each year. and particularly in the past six years or so, health insurance costs have dramatically increased. If there were a free market, the elderly and those who are more vulnerable in today's society, including those who need protection from the market, would be abandoned. That is another reason I support the legislation.

The Bill sets out to observe the principle that everyone has the opportunity to pay the same for a health plan, regardless of age, gender or medical condition. The President of the United States, Barack Obama, has recognised that one of the important entitlements in that country is the right to health, and that is why there is now what is commonly known as Obamacare, which essentially provides more widespread access to health services.

At the heart of our health service is the Government's policy of aspiring to a universal health system, led by the reforming Minister, Deputy James Reilly. There are already plans afoot to provide free GP cover for children under the age of five, and this legislation offers similarly exciting protection for elderly people who have contributed to the development of the health service through their taxes. This Government is committed to fairness, equality and access, and underpinning that is the system introduced by this legislation. It will balance cost and ensure that younger holders of health insurance contribute to older people's care, and in turn those who are younger and middle aged will enjoy those benefits when, in time, they need to avail of community rating, or risk equalisation, as it is known.

I welcome the Minister's call for the insurance companies to absorb all of this recent increase, or at least a significant portion of it. I also believe there needs to be a greater sharing of the burden between the companies, including VHI, Aviva and Laya, and I call on those companies to review their cost base and consider the medium to long term in the cover they offer. There has been quite a significant downgrading of cover in the past number of years because of our economic crisis, and a significant number of people have cancelled insurance for economic reasons. There have also been improvements in the health service in recent times, and we no longer have long waiting lists or daily news reports about large numbers of people on trolleys. The health system is being reorganised and solutions are being found to resolve the doctors' dispute. This comes despite the fact that we have less money in the health services, fewer staff and a significant increase in the number of procedures.

I welcome the Minister's announcement that no small hospital will close, as the future of small hospitals is secure. The Government is committed to cutting the cost of services but not the quality, and it is determined to monitor and minimise excessive expenditure. Like others, I am unhappy to hear of bonus payments to hospital chief executives, and the Minister is investigating the matter. It is worth remembering that the Minister has only been in office for two and a half years. He has one of the most difficult jobs in the country, and I am not just saying that because he is in the Dáil tonight. This is clear when one considers the state of the health service he inherited from a Government that had so many resources in its time. I recall a previous Minister saying about those recent years that the country was "awash" with money.

As I have noted, the Minister has got to grips with the numbers of people on trolleys and the junior doctors' industrial problems. There are new contracts for consultants, waiting lists have been tackled, and the Minister is now getting to grips with spending. I fully support the Minister's view that the money should follow the patient. The legislation contributes to the progress in achieving single-tier patient-centred universal health care for all living in this country, and at the very heart of that health service are the new primary care centres.

I conclude by stating my support for the legislation. Through risk equalisation, the most vulnerable - including the coping classes and elderly in particular - will be protected from the consequences of a market-driven health service, which I would be opposed to.

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