Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I repeat it. We all accept that health care is expensive and has to be paid for. The question is how to pay for it in a way that ensures the best possible health care for all who need it and which does so with the best achievable value for money. The Government is proposing to bring in universal health insurance, with the State subsidising those who cannot afford to pay insurance premiums. The State will still have a huge regulatory, managerial and funding role. Why, then, give private, for-profit insurance companies such a central place in the system? What contribution will they make? They are funded by the consumers who buy their products. The insurance companies, on behalf of policyholders, will buy services from private or public hospitals or other service providers, and they will have to make a substantial profit in the process.

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