John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Senator's amendment would remove from the Bill provisions aimed at protecting the position of the consumer in respect of advertising and the provision of information concerning health insurance contracts. The thrust of the related amendment to the preceding subsection put forward by the Senator's colleagues in the other House was accepted on the basis that it enhanced the provision of information to the consumer. Retaining the subsection under consideration is consistent with the approach taken to the subsection in question. For that reason, I cannot accept the amendments, as proposed, as they would not be in the interests of consumers.