Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Senators for their contributions to the debate. The Bill allows us to maintain our support for the core principle of community rating, which is a long-established and well supported Government policy for the health insurance market, and ensure that the cost of insurance is shared across the insured population.

The main purpose of the Bill is to update the amounts of risk equalisation credits paid to insurers and the stamp duty levies required to fund them. The amendments outlined in the Bill will ensure the ongoing sustainability of the private health insurance market. It will allow us to maintain the community-rated health insurance market and it will increase the effectiveness of the risk equalisation scheme.

On some of the comments made, it is quite right that almost 47% of people have decided to have private cover in Ireland. I also want to point out that 44% either have a medical or a doctor-only card. We will see more people receive the support of a doctor--only card in 2023.

We are making a lot of progress on Sláintecare. The public-only consultant contract signed recently is a huge step forward. This was one of the important pieces of the jigsaw. That is something that we have to recognise. We saw the best of Sláintecare during Covid, when the vaccine roll-out was one of the best not only in Europe, but in the world. The vaccines were free at the point of contact for all people who wished to receive one. That has to be recognised.

I am always conscious when I stand up in health debates that sometimes there is a lot of criticism of our health system. However, today I want to acknowledge and appreciate the 136,000 people who work in the system. I was in the Dáil last night at 11.20 p.m. taking a motion that was tabled on the challenges in emergency departments, and we recognised that. I was conscious at 11.20 p.m., when I was leaving the Dáil Chamber to go to my bed, that all over Ireland in acute and community hospitals, nursing homes, Caredocs and wherever, all of these people are working every night 365 days of the year to make sure that we are all safe, secure and that we receive the best healthcare possible. It is important to acknowledge that. These Houses go into recess for a month at the end of this week and we will see a new Taoiseach elected, but all of those people in healthcare will still be working. It is important that is acknowledged.

I wish to raise another point, because, as I said, we hear much negativity. This morning, for example, I was in Cherry Orchard and I was delighted to launch our 22nd integrated care programmes for older people, ICPOP, team. It is the most fantastic facility and a one-stop shop for older people to address the challenges they might have in, for example, their dietary requirements or whether they are risk of stroke or falling. A huge amount of work is being done. The most fantastic facility is being provided. Some 163 people were referred this year specifically for dementia. They are receiving the supports to age well at home with dementia, but also have the supports in the community. It is a lot of good work.

A huge milestone will be reached in University Hospital Waterford this Saturday. It will celebrate 1,000 consecutive days without a person on a trolley, which is an amazing achievement. I want to acknowledge Grace Rothwell, the general manager, her staff, the consultants, the doctors, the nurses, the healthcare workers, the porters and everybody who works in the hospital. To have that kind of an achievement is unbelievable. An awful lot of good work is going on and there is much more to do. I am happy to be in a position to try to effect change as best we can.

I will move back to the Bill again. It also makes further provision for the appointment and powers of authorised officers of the HIA, which is the statutory regulator of the health insurance market. These amendments strengthen the enforcement powers of the authority in carrying out its role as the regulator of the health insurance market.

The Government is committed to improving public health services under the Sláintecare programme, and the Bill demonstrates the Government's commitment to community rating. As access to public services improves, the Department of Health will monitor the impact on the private health insurance market. The programme for Government also commits to retaining access to private healthcare services for people in Ireland, ensuring choice for those accessing healthcare.

As Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, I say every day that the voice and choice of people has to be listened to. This Bill continues our policy of ensuring solidarity with and affordable premiums for less healthy or older people.

Again, I thank all Senators for their contributions to the debate and for facilitating the passage of the Bill. I would also like to thank the three officials who have accompanied me in the Dáil and the Seanad to take the Bill. They put a huge amount of work into it and I thank them for all their work.