Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House again today. As Senator Clifford-Lee and the Minister of State pointed out, this Bill comes before us every year, usually about two weeks before Christmas. It is technical but important. In our country, health insurance is affordable and does not discriminate in terms of age. When we look at what happens in America and other countries when it comes to health insurance, we are lucky our system is affordable. Ideally, we would have a public health system whereby health insurance is not required. That is what Sláintecare envisages. Hopefully, as a first world country with ample resources, we will reach a situation where people do not need health insurance and we will not have to debate this Bill. Until that time, this Bill is important and has to be passed. I assume it will flow through the House swiftly.