John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The short answer is "No". Section 22 inserts a new section 470B into the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. This new section provides for additional age-related tax credit in respect of health insurance premiums paid to authorised insurers, excluding restricted membership undertakings, within the meanings of section 2(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1994, under relevant contracts renewed or entered into on or after 1 January 2009, or before 1 January 2012 in respect of insured persons aged 50 years or over.

As regards premiums paid under contracts of insurance falling within section 2(10)(d) of the Health Insurance Act 1994, certain international health insurance plans or contracts of insurance relating solely to the charges for public hospital inpatient services under the Health In-Patients Charges Regulations 1987 do not qualify for the age-related tax credit. In the case of each insured person aged 50 years or over but less than 60, the tax credit is €200. Therefore, the answer is "No", they are not paying twice.