Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

To repeat the point I made earlier, even at this late stage the Minister should consider an extension of the deadline. It is something we see across many Departments in respect of many schemes that the deadline is extended at the last minute. I would not expect to hear from the Minister at this hour of the last day. If we are genuinely attempting to encourage as many people as possible to take out health insurance, and if by extending the deadline by a week or a fortnight, another 2,000, 3,000, 5,000 or 10,000 people would do so, that would be a help. I ask the Minister of State to impress on the Minister the need to consider an extension of the deadline because, notwithstanding the telephone calls and the Internet traffic, early indications appear to be that the take-up is not as significant as had been expected. That could be wrong and, as the Minister of State has said, the figures will not be available until the end of July, but there is no harm in considering a short extension of the deadline. The Minister of State does not have to respond but I simply ask him to convey my strong request in that regard to the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar.