Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

Has the Minister, her junior Minister or officials met representatives of the Quinn group since its announcement some weeks ago? Has the Minister held discussions with them on their future plans in the market?

I am deeply unhappy with the proposed legislation. I am on the record of this House and elsewhere in recent years as expressing grave concern over the concept of risk equalisation as it is practised in this country. Risk equalisation is a bar to competition and to consumer choice. Since the Health Insurance Act opened up the market in 1996 there has been minimal interest in entering the Irish market. If the Bill is passed tonight, it will ensure no new company will enter the Irish market.

The Minister referred in her contribution to the unique situation in the Irish health insurance market due to its size but it is also unique that one company is so dominant. The VHI owns 80% of the market and that is the fundamental problem. Until that is tackled we will not have sufficient consumer choice and competition. I favour community rating. It can happen if there is sufficient choice and a variation on risk equalisation. The practice in this country, however, has driven away new companies and tonight is another nail in the coffin as far as new entrants to the market are concerned.

Will the Minister bring forward the reports? We have all heard rumours about the contents of the Competition Authority report and the Health Insurance Authority report and they seem to pose grave questions about the current system of risk equalisation. The reports will be available soon but we now propose to pass legislation that will block new entrants. This is a bad night for the Irish consumer because we are putting an end to competition. I appreciate that the unexpected has occurred in recent months but this is a poor response.