Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Order of Business is No. 1, a referral motion whereby the subject matter of Nos. 10, 11 and 12 on the Order Paper will be referred, without debate, to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children for consideration. The proposed amendments in respect of the risk equalisation scheme involve the inclusion of a provision that specifically recognises the Health Insurance Authority's powers of interpretation and clarification to three existing definitions. In respect of the open enrolment regulations, the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2001 provides for the extension of the right to take out health insurance to persons of all ages. Previously there was no obligation on insurers to cover persons aged 55 and over who were not renewing cover. The minimum benefit regulations update references to the proposed open enrolment regulations and, similarly, provide for the term "relevant health services" replacing "ancillary health services"; No. 2, motion re the operation of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 12.15 p.m. with each spokesperson having ten minutes; and No. 3, Air Navigation and Transport (Indemnities) Bill 2005 — All Stages, to be taken between 12.15 p.m. and 2 p.m. Spokespersons will have 12 minutes and other Senators eight minutes on Second Stage with the Minister to be called on to reply not later than five minutes before the conclusion of Second Stage.