Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I absolutely do. The new deal reflects exactly that. I want to reiterate that while I felt last year the deal did not work for anybody, there was no criticism of those involved for doing it, given the level of the crisis. I have said that many times previously.

We did need to learn from that, however, and do it better. This deal works for patients first and foremost and for the State better. If and when the State needs to use the capacity, then we pay for it. We are avoiding exactly what the Deputy and I have discussed before, namely, these vast payments which essentially emptied out the hospitals with some hospitals left completely empty. That is not going to happen again.

The hospitals will continue using their capacity. The State will use the capacity for public patients as and when we need it. The VHI pricing for that, an established pricing mechanism, is being used. Critically, if we need over 30%, which we well may need, there is a clause in the contract whereby the amount the State uses can be expanded in agreement with the private hospitals.

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