Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Sean D. Barrett's comment that we need a reform agenda now that we are out of the bailout programme. That is the raison d'être of the Reform Alliance. I call for a debate on whether members of the permanent government, including the senior civil servants who work side by side with Ministers, should be on permanent contracts. I question this. It is a deep honour to have such a privilege for the term of a Government. They should be reinterviewed to work with a subsequent Government. The people elect public representatives who become Ministers and the Ministers' agendas should be getting through rather than that of the permanent government. It is time we had a debate on that issue with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

When will we have a debate on the cost of private health insurance? Health insurance is fast becoming unaffordable. Life is becoming unaffordable. I have just received the bill for health insurance for my family of four. It was €2,500, but the renewal price on 1 December is €3,200. What are we doing? We cannot rely on the public health insurance system. That is wrong. The State must manage this process. If we cannot reliably offer public services, why are we out-pricing ourselves in the private health insurance market? I want the State to manage this issue adequately.