John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

Like other speakers, I regret BUPA's decision to pull out of the Irish market, which was based on a court judgment. It is difficult to see how one can reconcile unfettered competition with community rating and risk equalisation. I do not know how those two matters fit in with one another. One has enormous sympathy for the 475,000 clients of BUPA and particularly for the staff who will lose their jobs in Fermoy. Hopefully, this matter can be dealt with effectively by the proposals to be brought forward in the new year and that everybody can be looked after, as they should be by a national insurance scheme. The VHI has served us well in the past. It is a curious conjunction that we had the report of the Competition Authority at the same time, or shortly after, this decision. Hopefully, we will be able to make progress on these matters.

I note the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome falls on 25 March 2007. It is an important event and one the House should mark. The Cathaoirleach might bring this matter to the attention of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. As the Cathaoirleach is aware, the House has a good record on debating European matters and in bringing Commissioners here. The EU Ambassador to the United States, Mr. John Bruton, recently appeared here and we all benefitted from that experience. Something special needs to be done.