Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When will the White Paper on universal health insurance be published? I note from the programme for Government that universal health insurance is to be introduced by 2016, but the legislative and organisational groundwork for the system is to be completed during the Government's term of office.

We have not had a White Paper yet. Will it be published before the end of the session?

Universal primary care will remove fees for GP care. When can we expect the universal primary care Bill which it is envisaged will remove fees for all GP care? When will discussions on the new GP contract begin?

Will the Taoiseach give an update on the consumer and competition Bill? Various commitments have been made on it. The Ministers, Deputies Bruton and Rabbitte, have territorial differences on it.

The Taoiseach has indicated the health service plan will be published tomorrow. Will he afford any opportunity on Thursday or tomorrow for debate on this in the House given the fact it relates to the budget? We were given certain figures in the budget which were clearly false and do not stand up. Will the Taoiseach give the Government time to debate the health service plan in plenary session in the House?

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