Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Health when the VHI will receive authorisation from the Central Bank of Ireland; the reasons for the delay in the VHI achieving this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2410/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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VHI submitted its application to the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) on 16 May 2014. It continues to engage closely with the CBI in respect of its application, and my Department has also provided a number of clarifications to the Bank to assist it in its understanding of the interaction between the private health insurance market and the health system.

Consideration of the VHI's application for authorisation is a matter for the CBI in its role as independent financial regulator and I cannot anticipate how long that process will take, or its outcome. However, I expect that VHI will be authorised at the earliest opportunity, if approved by the Central Bank.