Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Of course we support the legislation before us, recognising there has to be a system in place to ensure equalisation for people with health insurance. Very many have health insurance because they feel they have no choice, their incomes being above the threshold under which they would be eligible for a medical card. It is not that a medical card is wonderful in many cases because patients still end up waiting for very long periods, particularly if they are seriously ill. The card gives them, or attempts to give them, the comfort of having something to fall back on or having their medical expenses covered if they have a serious illness or accident, and the comfort of being seen faster. The latter is the main thing people want. They wish to be seen faster and dealt with more efficiently and effectively in the private system, although this is often not the case. However, the insurance gives people a certain amount of comfort.

The reality is that we have a public health system in chaos. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, and I know about the circumstances in Sligo University Hospital, which is in our constituency. Many of the consultants in the hospital, including senior ones, have been writing to the Minister for Health about the major problems in the hospital, the people on waiting lists who cannot get beds and the chronic overcrowding in the accident and emergency unit. All the time, we are told it is down to having more facilities, beds and staff. However, we have been promised these for years. I am aware that the Minister of State and my other constituency colleagues are all on the same page when it comes to delivering for our constituents but we must ask what has been delivered for the hospital since 2011, from which year the Minister of State's party has been in government. Very little has been delivered. The waiting lists are getting longer and longer. This points to why people opt for private insurance. A man said to me recently that although you pay taxes all your life, you have to write a cheque again when you get a health problem. That should not be the kind of society we have. We must do, and need to be, better than that.

Another point I want to make on private health insurance concerns mental health. Many who have had a mental health difficulty find it very difficult to get private health insurance. That needs to be investigated very closely. It is the same for mortgage protection insurance. When people take out a mortgage or want to buy a home, if they can afford one in this country, they naturally have to get mortgage protection insurance. If they are truthful and state they have had a mental-health-related incident, such as depression, at some stage, it is very difficult to get the insurance. This is freezing those people out of the possibility of progressing in their lives. These issues are genuine ones that people deal with daily.

Let me return to the matter at hand. I spoke to someone recently who said they had a scare with cancer but did not have health insurance. The person was really worried because they were told they would have to wait several months for an appointment with a specialist. In the context of the major crisis and the trauma for the family, the person rang VHI and got health insurance immediately so they would have it if things got worse. We need to recognise that we have to be better than that. We have to have a system that delivers for people when they need it, such that when they think they may have a problem with their health, they will not feel so scared that they take out their lives' savings and spend vast amounts on health insurance.

When anyone purchases anything in this country, he or she pays VAT on it. It is not just those who are in employment who are paying very high taxes; everyone is paying tax all the time and it all goes into the same pool. It should be available to help everybody, particularly those in need of health services at any time in their lives.

While we support what is being done in the legislation – it has to be done because it is part of the system – the fact that we need the system is a poor reflection on our society. We should have a proper public health service, delivered to everyone on the basis of need and not the wealth they happen to have.

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