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

We stated quite clearly that we were opposed to the universal health insurance model and committed to a taxation based model. The principal reason we are committed to a taxation model is that it is progressive. Those who have most and earn most pay most and contribute most to the health services in this country. The universal health insurance model was the opposite of that, which is why the Government is slowly letting it wither and die. It knows that the model will place an extraordinary burden on ordinary families. If the Government was so committed to it, one would think it would do more research prior to the election so that we would have a rough idea how much it will cost, as opposed to the opaque plan with no clear costing or policy on how to get there. That is the problem.

We have great difficulties in funding the health services but we must establish the fundamental principle of how to fund it in the first place. We still do not know the view of the Government on how it will fund the public health system today, tomorrow and into the near future other than universal health insurance at some stage. We support the concept of universality when it comes to GP access but as I said to the current Minister and the previous Minister people cannot fund universality by taking it from those who do not have. That is clearly what the Government is doing. In respect of general practitioner access, it is taking medical cards and other services from people who do not have them. The Government must get its priorities right. The vulnerable and those who need medical care the most must be the priority. Those who can afford health care can be worked into the system but not as the priority, as an election gimmick or as a way to buy votes in the coming 18 months. That seems to be the tenor of the Minister's comments. The Minister is becoming very political in looking at cohorts that may reward the Government electorally. It is the wrong thing to do.

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