Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last year in his Budget Statement the Minister announced a cap on the tax relief for private health insurance. At that time he said that only gold-plated private health insurance policyholders would suffer as a result of the €1,000 tax relief cap. Of course, that has not transpired. The vast majority of families who are struggling to pay for private health insurance find themselves facing a huge increase in the cost of that insurance. What consultation did the Minister's Department have with the Department of Health in view of the fact that this policy flies in the face of the Government's intention to move to universal health insurance, whereby everybody will be compelled to have private health insurance?

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