Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 111: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the present six monthly risk equalisation regime is sustainable in view of the regulatory burden and uncertainty that this is causing the market. [33640/05]

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 112: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the six monthly risk equalisation scheme and the regulatory burden and uncertainty that this continuing process is causing the market. [33641/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.

Under the Health Insurance Acts and the provisions of the risk equalisation scheme 2003, participating insurers submit data returns to the Health Insurance Authority on a six-monthly basis, and the authority analyses these returns to assess the level of risk differential between the insurers in order to make its recommendation to me regarding the commencement or non-commencement of risk equalisation transfers.

In accordance with the terms of the scheme, the authority has received returns covering four six monthly periods since 1 July 2003. I decided last June not to commence risk equalisation transfers, having considered the recommendation made by the Health Insurance Authority when it submitted its third report and the subsequent representations made by health insurance undertakings. I am currently considering the authority's fourth report. I am satisfied that the current arrangements are appropriate and that they do not impose unreasonable demands on insurers in the market. Any insurer operating, or intending to operate in the market will be aware that recourse to risk equalisation is a feature of the Irish health insurance regulatory framework.