Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

We have some very witty Members on the Labour Party benches urging Deputy Healy-Rae to talk to his brother.

The big insurance rip-off continues. VHI customers will be hit with an increase today, quickly followed by Laya Healthcare and Irish Life Health in the coming days. The latest health insurance hike will see some families paying an extra €600 on their premiums. People now fork out almost €2,000 every year for health insurance, which is an extraordinary sum. Private healthcare in Ireland, as the Minister knows, is totally reliant on the public system. Health insurance is supported with tax subsidies to the tune of €400 million every year. The Minister's Government has leverage and I believe it is now time to get off the bench. The Government needs to do its job. I believe it needs to haul in the top brass of the insurance companies and tell them to stop ripping people off. The Government has leverage and it should use it because families are struggling, as the Minister well knows.

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