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

The Taoiseach will recall that I asked a series of questions about the legislative commitment in the programme for Government about the health service and universal health insurance, UHI. I did so in the light of comments made by the new Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, about delaying or deferring the abolition of the Health Service Executive and the officials saying the construct was simply unworkable. I asked about the legislative commitment to the hospital insurance fund, and when the legislative basis for UHI would be enacted. The programme for Government says it will be enacted in the first term and, "The HSE’s function of purchasing care for uninsured patients will be given to a Hospital Care Purchase Agency” and so on.

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