Dáil debates

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

5:50 pm

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

It would appear from the schedule of legislation published today that the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, has won the day. The Government promised in January last to introduce the health reform Bill, whose stated aim was "to put in place the new structures for the health service as set out in Future Care and the disestablishment of the HSE". According to the new schedule, however, the Government intends to introduce only the Health (General Practitioners Service) (No. 2) Bill and the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill. Where stands the health reform Bill and when can we expect it to be published?

In addition, the programme for Government promises the introduction of at least nine pieces of legislation in the area of health to underpin the introduction of universal health insurance. This legislation was meant to be introduced during the lifetime of this Government. Perhaps the Taoiseach would indicate when the universal primary care Bill will be published. On universal health insurance, the programme for Government states that the legislative basis for universal health insurance will be established by the universal health insurance legislation. When can we expect that legislation to be published?

When can we expect the patient safety authority legislation to come before the House? The Taoiseach might also indicate when the legislation to give public hospitals autonomy from the HSE will be brought before the House. When will the legislation to give the HSE function of purchasing power for uninsured patients to a hospital care purchase agency and the establishment of that agency be brought before the House? A treatment purchase fund to purchase care for the uninsured over the transition period is to be established. When will the relevant legislation come before the House? According to the programme for Government, an integrated care agency is to be established. Perhaps the Taoiseach will indicate when the necessary legislation in that regard will be introduced. It is three and a half years or more since this Government was formed. All of the aforementioned legislation was promised in the programme for Government. I have asked the Taoiseach about it on previous occasions. I would appreciate if he could give me a precise answer now in regard to whether we can expect publication of this legislation during this session or beyond that, as promised by the Government.

In addition, when can we expect the establishment of the commission of inquiry following the publication of the Guerin report? It is four months since the Taoiseach committed in the House to such a commission to deal with the serious allegations made in that report, which also recommended the establishment of a commission of inquiry to specifically deal with those allegations. The Taoiseach committed in the House to doing that. For some reason unknown to most people, that has not happened. I would appreciate some clarity in that regard.

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