Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Part of the process of the introduction of UHI is the introduction of free GP cards for children under five years of age. It is the first part of the process. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy White, has been very diligent in pursuing that and, as has already been announced, €37 million was allocated for it this year. This is not disappearing into smoke and is not being shunted out beyond the horizon. I made it clear on many occasions that universal health insurance cannot be introduced until the end of the term of this Government because we must deal with all the issues mentioned in Deputy Martin's question, such as cost containment, demographics and the range of the medical packages that will be provided by the insurance companies.

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