Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes raised the matter of BUPA and risk equalisation. It is interesting to note that other countries have health insurance markets which combine community rating with vigorous competition. For example, the concepts would not be incompatible in Australia, where BUPA itself operates within such a system and receives money as a result of risk equalisation because it has an above average number of older members. It can happen in other areas.

Be that as it may, the issue has hit us strongly here and the Senator asked if we could debate the matter when the Order of Business finishes. The other House is not sitting and I do not know how I can go galloping around the city trying to fetch Ministers.