Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

In the past year the House debated the health insurance Bill and regulations dealing with risk equalisation. The Leader will be aware that the Minister for Health and Children promised that the risk equalisation policy, which was foisted upon the health insurance market by the VHI, would ensure health insurance would remain affordable. I ask her to arrange for the Minister to attend the House to explain what is happening as a result of risk equalisation. It is keeping competition out of the market, the consequences of which are reflected in the request by the VHI to impose another increase in insurance premiums, of approximately 8% in this instance. The only thing more outrageous was the Minister's comment that he found it acceptable. It is a disgrace. The matter must be debated in the near future.