Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I presume this is the same Mr. Pat McLoughlin who carried out a thorough report on local government.

If he is assisting the Minister of State, Deputy White, and the Minister, Deputy Reilly, it is to be commended and is a positive development.

Economists had hoped that competing health insurance companies would drive down the cost in the model with which the Department is closely connected, the provision of health services. The patient is too sick to do it. We have made health insurance competition impossible with the rules by which the companies are required to operate. I look forward to seeing what Mr. McLoughlin makes of it. Policy has been going wrong and we have been losing cases in the High Court here and in Europe. It must be sorted out. I assure the Minister of State of my support for all endeavours in this regard.