Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is not why I rose. Clearly, in the fullness of time when this Government rolls out its programme for Government in regard to free GP care and so forth, it is my hope that we will be well on the way to a medical system where people do not fear the annual increases in their medical insurance premiums because they will not need them. However, I accept we are not in that position yet and I have some sympathy with where the Senator is coming from.

I am particularly conscious of the fact that many older people are very nervous and concerned about the cost of medical care. To be fair, a number of people do not believe they will be adequately taken care of under the public health system and feel they must have private medical care to protect themselves. I have some sympathy with what the Senator proposes in this recommendation but I do not think it is practical or even relevant to the cost of medical insurance. The consumer price index does not reflect medical insurance premiums.