Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to make a brief contribution this afternoon. The Minister of State said the programme for Government commits to retaining access to private healthcare services for people in Ireland and ensuring choice for those accessing healthcare and that while such a high proportion of people hold health insurance across Ireland, it makes sense to maintain a community-rated health insurance market. It would make more sense to have targeted investment and specific planning in our public health service. That makes real sense. An all-island health service would also make sense. Of course, for the moment and for as long as those who are intent on strangling the health service have control over it, there will always be a growing market for private health insurance. Governments such as the one in power at the moment will always lead the charge and act as a great advertisement and a great recruiter for the private health insurance market.

Just so the Minister of State is aware, people do not get private health insurance because they want to skip the queue, get one-up on their neighbours or, in many cases, because they can afford it. Many people cannot afford it and they go without, just to have private health insurance. I do not have private health insurance. I am lucky that I have never needed it, touch wood. I would not get it as I do not support it. I live by that but I know many people who have it. They do not favour private health insurance, but they do not want to find themselves on one of the Minister of State’s waiting lists. They do not want to find themselves having to wait years in pain simply to see a doctor. They find the money somewhere to ensure they can pay for private health insurance.

The Minister of State acknowledged that we have a high level of private health insurance in this State. I do not think we have a high level, or a disproportionately high level, of people who favour private health insurance. They simply favour being able to see a doctor when they need to see a doctor. They cannot do that in the public health system very often. The Minister of State knows all of the reasons. Just because the Minister of State does not fix it does not mean she is not aware of what has caused it. She knows the reasons our health service has the waiting lists that it has. She does not deny it - in fact, she was nearly celebrating it there in her statement.

In any event, we have this debate every year because we have to have it. It is a necessary debate and I fully appreciate that.

However, it would be preferable to hear a credible plan from the Minister proposing the legislation to ensure such a massive incentive for private health insurance is not stacked into our public health system. We live in hope.

While I have the floor I will raise an issue that affects a very small number of people. I ask the Minister of State to look at this or get someone in her Department to do so. It relates to restricted membership undertakings, RMUs, that is, where a person is a member of a scheme by virtue of the fact that they are married to someone in a particular type of employment, such as the Garda. I am not specifically referring to the Garda medical aid but that is one example. If someone is married to a member of An Garda Síochána they are covered under their spouse's scheme. The scheme was devised when we did not have divorce but if such a couple got divorced then clearly that person would not be covered by the scheme anymore as they would not be a spouse. However, there is no obligation in the legislation for them to be told of this. There is no obligation in law for the spouse who is being divorced from the serving member to be told and that can create problems because of the way the insurance market is structured. That person, through no fault of their own because they might not know their former spouse discontinued their membership of the health insurance scheme, can find themselves on the outside of the health insurance market, and it is harder for people to get private health insurance in their mid to late 50s. In the case that was brought to my attention, the person involved only found out by accident that they did not have private health insurance. It is a very small and niche thing but it is something that could be addressed.

I asked a parliamentary question about this matter and the response stated:

In the case where a person ceases to be a dependant of a member, for example where they cease to be married to the member of the medical society or where their spouse ceases to qualify as a member, an RMU is not obligated to continue to provide insurance cover to that person.

That is fine but they are also not obligated to tell these people. I am not saying there are large numbers involved here but a small fix would be in order. I am using the opportunity this afternoon to bring this matter to the Minister of State's attention. I am happy to discuss it with her afterwards but she might get someone to have a look at it. It is a small thing but since it has happened once there is a small chance that it could happen again and it would be appropriate to have a look at that. I thank the Minister of State for her attention on the matter.

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