Results 3,381-3,400 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey
- Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: Where is the Dublin transport authority and where is the legislation to deal with transport in the Dublin area?
- Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: I would appreciate an answer on all the issues I raised.
- Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: That was only a sneeze.
- Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: What are the views of the Fianna Fáil Senators on this issue?
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: What difficulties does the Minister envisage regarding the authorisation of the VHI? It appears that matters should be straightforward when the reserve issue is resolved. The VHI would then be in a position to act according to whatever the market dictates once it complies with the Financial Regulator under existing legislation. It does not appear, therefore, that any major problems will...
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: What status does the Minister expect the VHI will have after this legislation is passed? Will it be more like a semi-State body or will this Bill will make the VHI corporate and therefore easier to privatise?
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: I am curious about how this Bill will progress matters. It seems to set it up so that if the Government wants to dispose of the VHI and privatise it fully, it can be done. This raises two concerns.
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: It would be relatively straightforward to do so once this Bill is passed as it will almost have semi-State status. The Government is divesting itself of responsibility for the VHI. Much of the regulation of the organisation will fall into the remit of the Financial Regulator and this will make it easier to privatise it. Half of the population relies on private health insurance and the VHI...
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: What will be the status of VHI? Will it be a semi-State organisation?
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: Does the Minister for Health and Children have no control over it apart from owning it?
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: The Minister will no longer have a veto over increasing premiums.
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: That is right.
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: Vulnerable times like in advance of a general election.
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: I presume there will be an opportunity to finalise some issues regarding the HIA before we give away full responsibility for control.
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: The Minister has said she will return to certain issues when the Bill is taken in the Dáil. However, will the Bill allow the VHI, without any partners, to set up swift clinics wherever it wishes? Could this lead to a range of swift clinics, which some people might regard as the corporatisation of general practice? Could that process accelerate with the benefit of this legislation?
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: They have not until this point.
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: I should not have been here.
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: Is that to do with the reserve?
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: Is the reserve being changed?
- Seanad: Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Nov 2007)
Liam Twomey: It is 28% or something like that.