Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Aontaím go hiomláin leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Healy Eames on health insurance. It is time the Minister for Health was invited to the House for a full debate on the issue. I am sure the Leader will remind me that legislation will be before us presently on the increase in the health levy. I do not have a great difficulty with that Bill because the principle of risk equalisation is essential to the health insurance market. However, wider issues arise in respect of this topic. Senator Fidelma Healy Eames clearly identified the failure of Government policy to address this issue, given the significant increases in premiums. These increases will apply to varying degrees across the board. This will have the consequence of haemorrhaging people in their 20s, 30s and early 40s from the health insurance market which will lead to the point where health insurance will be unsustainable for the companies concerned because those who draw on insurance policies will the main body of subscribers.

It then becomes an issue of solvency for the insurance companies.

I am asking for a debate, in particular, on the changes that were made apparently without reference to the Minister for Health. It is an indication of exactly how the gang of four within the Government is operating. The members of that gang narcissistically call themselves the Economic Management Council but, as far as I know, there is not a maths teacher among them, never mind an economic consultant. There is a serious issue here. As well as the change in the tax relief provisions, a public bed cost is being applied at something in the order of €950 per night to people who have subscribed throughout their working lives, through income tax, PRSI and the universal social charge, to the funding of these services. The failure to manage the cost of running the health services, which has arisen out of the inefficiencies within the Health Service Executive, is now being imposed on private health insurers, making it unsustainable for them to continue in that business in the long term. This runs totally contrary to the stated policy of Government.

Will the Leader bring the Minister into the House for a debate on this issue? The next step, of course, if significant action is not taken in this area, will be for the Taoiseach to put somebody who has the required aptitude and capability in charge of the health services.