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

The programme for Government states that the legislative basis for universal health insurance will be established by the universal health insurance Act. Can the Taoiseach indicate when we can expect that universal health insurance Act? The programme also stated:

In the first term of this Government, the foundations will be laid for the introduction of Universal Hospital Care Insurance:- The legislative basis for UHI will be enacted.

- Public hospitals will be given autonomy from the HSE.

- The HSE’s function of purchasing care for uninsured patients will be given to a Hospital Care Purchase Agency which will combine with the National Treatment Purchase Fund to purchase care for the uninsured over this transition period.

I was listening to the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, at the weekend. He indicated that these are no longer legislative priorities of the Government. He also said that the Government and the party he is a member of need to be more honest with the electorate before elections in respect of health policy. Can the Taoiseach confirm whether the legislative basis for UHI will be established by the universal health insurance Act? Will the legislation for the three areas I outlined relating to public hospitals getting autonomy from the HSE come before the House? When can we expect it? When can we expect the legislation governing the establishment of the hospital care purchasing agency that was to be established?

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to legislate for those in long-term illness to receive medical cards. I understand this is not now proceeding. The bottom line is that thousands of people, especially elderly people, some with terminal illnesses such as cancer, are still being refused their medical cards. The matter has been publicly reported on this morning and Deputy Moynihan has spoken of a horrendous and heart-rending case. When can we expect legislation to restore the medical card - I am not referring to the general practitioner visit card but the medical card - to the over 70s?

The commitment in the programme for Government to the elderly refers to long-term care places and how additional funding will be provided, particularly in terms of caring for people in the community and the capital plan that the Government had outlined. There is a substantial number of district hospitals throughout the country. The Health Information and Quality Authority has put out major warnings pertaining to their continuation and sustainability without capital investment. When can we expect the Government to make a decision in respect of that issue? When can we expect a review of the fair deal?

Finally, in respect of NAMA-----

See this speech in context