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

The Taoiseach has confirmed what I said in my original question; the Government is delaying universal health insurance, UHI. He has just said the Government confirmed the concept, but the concept was confirmed before the last general election, with statements like the "money follows the patient" and that kind of soundbite which got him through the last general election.

The Taoiseach has now teed it up to get himself over the next election with no detail. He will certainly get by the local elections with absolutely no detail. The only ones sowing confusion are the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly. The plan now is to get to the next general election, when the Taoiseach will tee it up again and make the exact same promise he made three years ago, which will then be five years ago, and say we have another five years to go before we implement this, with no detail whatsoever.

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