Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I appreciate that we are not operating from a greenfield site and the difficulties regarding the dominance of VHI. If this legislation allows subsidiaries to develop and the VHI to enter these markets, does it make the dominant position of VHI more of a problem? I raised questions about subsidiaries and whether there will be cross-subsidies that may exacerbate some of the difficulties outlined. Will profits be used to subsidise the health insurance business and maintain premiums below cost? These matters could add to the problem of dominance rather than deal with it. The amendment is an attempt to address this.

Are there some consumer issues that will arise but which will be dealt with by legislation related to the Financial Regulator?