Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

We have dealt with monopolies in other services, and sometimes, in our desire to solve problems, we can go too far. There was a time when there were not enough solicitors, barristers or accountants in this country. The word "professional" and the phrase "I am a professional" were allowed to be uttered only by a small, privileged minority. We have allowed the medical profession to remain a small, privileged minority, and until such time as we significantly increase the supply of medical expertise, including GPs, consultants and other specialists, we will continue to have appalling health bills, the new BUPAs and the VHI will have to charge more and more, and this endless debate will go on. I wish it were simple but it is not. We must tackle the question of the cost of the health service. It is not justifiable that a GP can charge between €60 and €80 to sign a prescription for the local chemist who then charges €40 for an antibiotic.

During a debate on similar legislation in the past, I recounted how when in France some years ago I went to a local doctor at the onset of an ear infection who, with some reluctance, took €10 from me. When I went to the chemists with the prescription, the medicine cost me only €4. Why should this be the case in France and not in Ireland? Why should a GP here demand seven times as much as a French doctor? Why should medicines cost so much more? Maybe my argument is too simplistic and I am missing the point. If I am correct, however, this has been going on for a generation. We cannot allow the majority to be unable to pay for the services of a relatively privileged elite profession.

Most fair-minded people in the body politic were pleased with the general tone of the budget, notwithstanding the enormously difficult choices faced by the Government. As a result of the tax and social welfare measures, people are relatively no worse off than they were last week. That is a solid political achievement. If, with a stroke of a pen, the VHI and other health insurance providers increase their charges in January, then all that economic good from the budget is wiped away. Middle Ireland - the working man and woman who have to pay for everything - will be penalised. Many will drop out of private health insurance cover or remove their children from polices. That is bad for both the health of the country and the economy in the long term.

Will the Minister of State, along with her senior Minister, begin an aggressive campaign to make the provision of medical care more affordable and reasonable? When the EU and IMF came to town, we did not cheer them from the rafters. However, if the cost of health care comes under their deep and probing spotlight, I wish they would hang around until the cost of medical care is resolved. Until we sort out the charges for medicines, doctors and consultants, it will be increase after increase in the cost of private health insurance. Property they say is location, location, location. Medicine is now cost, cost, cost.