Results 6,441-6,460 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: He certainly did, unless the record is mistaken, but I doubt that. In 2006, the Fine Gael leader, Deputy Kenny, said he was opposed to the introduction of risk equalisation, the Government scheme that would see BUPA hand over €160 million over the following three years to its competitor, the State-owned health insurance company VHI. The leader of Fine Gael who said that is now the...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the private health insurance in general and address this Bill too. It is hard to believe the Minister is in here, sponsoring this Bill, in view of all he has said about the viability of the health insurance market, the fact that it is contracting rapidly and the fact that what underpins intergenerational solidarity and supports community rating and risk...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: Can I make a suggestion? I would like to fight the good fight for as long as possible but we can go through this very quickly if the Government agrees to that.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I accept that and am just trying to facilitate the Minister of State. I am trying to facilitate everyone here.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: If the Minister of State concedes-----

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: Concedes was the wrong term. The Minister of State might agree to go through this quickly.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: That is what discretion is for.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I do not want to delay because I know I will inevitably be crushed by a massive majority. At the risk of being accused of being repetitive, we have already discussed the eligibility. Under this section a person who has been notified that he or she is eligible for a medical card shall "at any time after such notification, furnish to the Health Service Executive such information regarding...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: There will be embarrassment for lots of people in looking forward.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: We had a discussion but I do not think it has been fair.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: We could be going around in a circle for the day. The Minister of State said I, more than anyone else in this room, should be aware of cost savings. I should be, to say the very least, but the fact is that the current programme for Government was drafted in February and March 2011.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: One should consider its impact.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: The legislation runs contrary to everything in the programme for Government. I can go through it line by line. It states: Where—(a) a person—(i) was married to another person until that other person’s death, (ii) was living with another person as husband and wife until that other person’s death, or (iii) was a civil partner as respects another person until that...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: They will lose their private health insurance because they will not be able to afford it and they will find they will not qualify for a medical card. The people who are slightly over the threshold of €900 a week are those who possibly could afford private health insurance until recently but will no longer be able to do so. They will not be able to access medical care through the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: My point is this is an attack on older people. The increase in the prescription charge further undermines the ability of older people to access medical care in primary care settings. Older people will have to pay for their GP, medical care and prescription costs and some will lose their health insurance. For all these reasons, the Bill is distasteful to say the very least because it will...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: It is difficult to accept this ruling simply because a case has been made by the Minister of State and his party and the Taoiseach and his party and the current Minister of Health, when he was in opposition, to the effect that introducing eligibility criteria for the over 70s would impose a cost on the Exchequer because people would be discouraged from accessing primary care. The commentary...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I accept that but I felt I had to put-----

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: Yes. However, the arguments put forward over many years indicate that increasing access to primary care and GPs is a cost-saving measure. That has been identified-----

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: I wish to place on the record the fact that I am of the view that the ruling in this case is incorrect, particularly if one examines the evidence as outlined by the Minister for Health.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Billy Kelleher: That is fine. I just wanted to place my views on record.