Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government commissioned the ESRI to carry out a report on the costings in respect of the universal health insurance model put forward in its programme for Government. The Government has taken into account the findings of the ESRI report and will not implement the findings of the report in respect of this particular model given the costings and the levy which would be imposed on people.

While I could quibble with elements of the ESRI report in terms of margins, transaction costs or unmet needs costs, the fact of the matter is that far from ignoring the truth, reality and reports, the Government takes into account the findings of the ESRI report and I note that the author was very clear this morning when talking about this particular model of universal health insurance.

The Government and the Minister intend to continue on the path of reform which has been under way for a number of years. We will commission further work as envisaged by the ESRI in its report. Other models of funding should be, can be and will be examined. From Government's perspective, we want to continue to hold to the ending of the two-tier health system. We want to introduce universal access to health care based on medical need and we will continue to look at funding models which are different to this particular model examined by the ESRI. The ESRI produced its findings at the request of Government, which commissioned this report, following the publication of the universal health insurance White Paper published in 2014. That is slightly different from Fianna Fáil's programme for health, which was rejected by Deputy Martin's author.

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