Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Members of the House for their comments and views on the Bill. I am grateful for the broad and informative discussion of its provisions which has taken place in this House. I will consider the points made in the context of the preparations for further discussion on the Bill in the course of the coming week.

I greatly appreciate the support and analysis presented by Senator Quinn. He is quite right on the issue of risk equalisation. The scheme has been rated by independent examinership and supported by the Advisory Group on the Risk Equalisation Scheme and by the Irish Society of Actuaries. That indicates where we are coming from in this regard.

There were many others who expressed support for the Bill. I appreciate their comments and their expression of support for community rating and risk equalisation, and the contribution of private health insurance for the delivery of our overall health services.