Results 701-720 of 27,016 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am just going to comment briefly. I would bring the rate down to zero to be honest. I just do not see why these providers should make a profit. We are probably not going to get into this debate, but I cannot understand how a Government committed to universal, single tier healthcare can think it is acceptable these companies are making any profit at all. I cannot see how they are...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Absolutely, and in healthcare more than anything. I am just using this opportunity to say this, because unless there is an intention to get rid of that at some point, the Government is perpetuating a fundamentally iniquitous situation where these companies are, essentially, exploiting people's vulnerability for profit.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Excellent

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I want to hear the Minister's response about the charging and the margin.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Who will pay the margin?

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have a question. Is it free or is it not free? Will the Minister explain because it is not coming across very clearly? The State is covering the costs of the products and the HRT.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: But there is a margin. Who will pay the margin and how much will it be? How much is it likely to be? Why is the State not paying the margin?

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am all for that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is not.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Instruction to Committee (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Never let it be said, but I am happy to support this positive development. It is an important step forward for women's healthcare. Making products that help alleviate the symptoms of menopause, such as HRT, free to women is a very welcome development. It points in the direction we want to go, which is that all healthcare should be free for all who need it. I refer not only to women's...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: They sure are.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That was a very good programme by the way.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: No, I did not. I did not say that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes, I did say that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The healthcare workers are great.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes, and we could not come up with a response to that in a year

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That is why people are driven into the private health insurance market. People make money out of it but it perpetuates an unfair two-tier system and perpetuates the problems in the public health system.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Out of deference to your good self, a Cheann Comhairle, I will do that.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: "Laya profits soar to €36.55 million". That was a headline in the newspapers earlier this year. Its profits were up by €14 million. For AXA, I do not have the figure for its profits, but it had €2 billion coming in from premiums. It has 30% of the Irish market, while Laya has 28%, and I think AXA is now underwriting Laya premiums. This is big business and big...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 Oct 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Earlier I made the point to the Taoiseach that I think games or deceptions are being played with regard to what is happening to recruit the staff we need in various areas of the health service. The Taoiseach did not like it when I spoke about deception. This question is about children. I want to refer the Taoiseach to the figures, which are the HSE's figures and not mine. If we ask...