David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome this Bill. It is a good, important and necessary one. I have been insured with the VHI for more than 50 years. I joined the Trinity scheme. I am very glad it had a community scheme and I am still in it. I had hardly used it until four years ago when I developed a very aggressive cancer and I had a liver transplant. I do not believe I could possibly have afforded the cost of that operation without the VHI and I am very grateful we had this scheme in operation, although I probably had paid for it in my total subscriptions.

The principle and the ethos underpinning this Bill are highly important. The Minister of State said, "the Bill will ensure the ongoing sustainability of the private health insurance market and seek to keep health insurance policies at an affordable price for all citizens, young or old, sick or healthy".