Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What we are speaking about is the continuation of a two-tier health system that has been allowed to develop because of underinvestment in our public health service. The situation is such that we have citizens who have become reliant on a private system that many cannot afford but cannot afford to give up either. Many people in my constituency are faced with regular increases in already huge health insurance policies and must give up something to pay for them. In one case, a parent had to postpone going to the doctor because it was not free for him at the point of entry and he could not afford the doctor's fee while continuing to pay for his family's health insurance. This is one example of how the two-tier system has failed us. People cannot afford to go to a doctor. This is wrong on all counts.

What about those who cannot afford private health insurance? They are left with the prospect of lengthy waiting lists in an under-resourced public health system. Over the years, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have promoted a policy that allows those who can afford to pay to skip the queue. All others must tighten their belts and take out a policy or else deal with waiting lists in the public system while their conditions get worse. Where are we now? We find ourselves being asked to ensure older and sick people will not have to pay more for health insurance. While we support this, ultimately people should not need private health insurance. We should not have to be here today taking measures that spread the cost of private insurance. We should be discussing universal healthcare. The system is broken, as is the Government's record of ensuring our health system works for us all.

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