Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Not since the former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern spoke about smoke and daggers have we seen a sleight of hand such as that used by the Minister on budget night in respect of this health insurance issue. I cannot understand how anyone can figure out that 43% is a majority, and it really worries me to think that we have a Minister for Finance who believes that 43% is a majority. When I did maths in school, 43% was not a majority. It is a minority of people who are able to avail of the more standard policies who will not be affected by health insurance changes. The vast majority of people who are in receipt of health insurance will actually be affected by this. That is where the Minister of State's calculation is flawed, because health insurance is again increasing this year.

The Minister has made the point that people can move to cheaper policies. What is the Department's calculation of how many people will move to cheaper policies under the threshold? The VHI, which knows something about the Irish health insurance market, has estimated that the total tax take from this will be approximately €170 million, €50 million in excess of what is proposed here. Deputy Boyd Barrett's amendment would bring in the sort of figure the Minister envisages and ensure that far more people will be out of the tax system regarding this proposal. The Minister says that only 190,000 out of 2.13 million people will have a significant increase in their health insurance premiums as a result of this. Nobody believes that. In my book, 43% is not a majority.

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