Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

On the appropriateness or otherwise of the Minister having a role in the VHI with a view to encouraging competition, as Senator Quinn stated, it is wholly appropriate that the Minister should have clear control over pricing. This is a crucial responsibility because we have seen, following the privatisation of Telecom Éireann and Aer Lingus, that it is unsatisfactory to have no control over pricing.

Last night, I attended a fund-raiser for the south Westmeath hospice foundation, which intends to raise €1.6 million locally to establish a hospice in the Athlone area. The region does not have a health facility worth talking about. Access is a vital issue and Senator Ellis's comment that accessing cancer treatment is similar to going on a shopping trip is utterly indefensible. He may not have meant offence but it is inappropriate to compare accessing cancer treatment with a shopping trip. People need to access services locally in so far as possible. Athlone, with a population of more than 23,000, is a suitable location for the VHI or a similar company to locate a private hospital or SwiftCare centre. A large number of patients would avail of such a facility.