Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Bradford spoke about the risk equalisation policy which was supposed to lead to stabilisation of insurance premia and pointed out that the VHI had sought an increase. However, the VHI has to pay its employees and enter into contracts with consultants, specialists and so forth. It would have been easy for the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to huff and puff about the matter but he decided to be straightforward in his comments.

Senator John Paul Phelan referred to radio licences and pointed out that if the Fine Gael amendments had been accepted in the other House, the matter would not have reached this point. The Senator might have a point but I do not know the detail of the matter.