The Minister for Health has been performing some extraordinary somersaults on Government health policy in recent times. This morning he was on "Morning Ireland" attempting to give the impression that the programme for Government was not as strong in terms of its commitment to universal health insurance as what was included in the Fine Gael manifesto in 2011. He also made comments to the effect that universal health insurance could not be introduced in one big bang. The programme for Government is emphatic and clear. It states, "[t]his Government will introduce Universal Health Insurance with equal access to care for all" and "[a] system of Universal Health Insurance (UHI) will be introduced by 2016, with the legislative and organisational groundwork for the system complete within this Government’s term of office". On 9 March 2011, when introducing the Government's programme, the Taoiseach said, "In the vital area of health, we will introduce universal health insurance...." In case people will suggest the Labour Party had not signed up, the then Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, said on 2 April 2014 at the launch of the White Paper that in 2001 the Labour Party had been the first political party in Ireland to propose universal health insurance based on multiple insurers. The Labour Party was in favour of universal health insurance before Fine Gael. The introduction of universal health insurance was an explicit commitment on the part of both Fine Gael and the Labour Party and it is extraordinary that the Government has essentially wasted four years on a flawed policy based on a flawed model which it presented to the people.

Is Fianna Fáil agreeing or disagreeing with Leo?

We are agreeing with him.

It represents perhaps one of the biggest untruths before the general election.

Leo does not know himself.

Why does Deputy Micheál Martin not just say that in the first place?

The Deputy might allow me to speak. It is not a laughing matter when one considers that individual taxpayers could face a bill of up to €3,000 under the Government's proposals.

The Economic and Social Research Institute has undertaken a major study on this and it was presented to the Minister on 21 May. However, the document is being held back.

Deputy Martin is agreeing with the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar.

The document is not being published. Will the Taoiseach confirm, first of all, that the commitment in the programme for Government to legislation - it states that universal health insurance legislation will be introduced - has now been formally and officially abandoned? A year ago the Minister said the same thing. The Taoiseach had a cut off him, marked his cards, said he was wrong and that universal health insurance was still on the Government's agenda. Anyway, he was clear this morning. He is now using new language, calling it universal health care. It is a real slíbhín approach, as if we will disappear or eliminate it, like George Orwell. It is almost Orwellian as if he is saying we never actually promised universal health insurance. It is as if he wants to bury all the documents or get rid of them. That seems to be what is happening. People are not fools. I want the Taoiseach to confirm it. Is universal health insurance off the table? Will the Government publish the ESRI report, which went into the costings of universal health insurance? Will the Government also publish the KPMG report it commissioned in respect of this policy?

Four years on the Government has created havoc throughout the health service with waiting lists, waiting times and accident and emergency departments across the board. There have been extraordinary increases in waiting times. The Government issue is not resolved by any shape or means. The then Minister, Deputy James Reilly, was disastrous during his tenure as Minister for Health. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, seems to be doing nothing more than to try to put a brave face on it and to get presentational issues right before the next general election. A big lie was told here on this health issue. A big, big lie was told before the last election to the people. It is time we got some truth, transparency and honesty from the Government in respect of this issue.

It is a common word that Deputy Martin uses these days. I assure Deputy Martin that the matter of universal health insurance is part of the Government's agenda.

It is not on the agenda of the Minister for Health.

I confirm for Deputy Martin that it will not be introduced in the lifetime of this Government. I confirm for Deputy Martin that the steps that have to be taken to restructure the health system for any particular form of universal health insurance are taking longer than anyone expected.

The Minister did not say that this morning.

Clearly we have gone a long way with the primary care teams, the building of the primary centres, the free GP care strategy for under sixes and over 70s and hospital groups that have been established.

That has nothing to do universal health insurance.

We have moved to hospital trusts to define what is best in the different areas.

We do not have hospital trusts.

There is far more use of generic drugs. The issues of consultant pay and stabilisation of the private health insurance market have been addressed.

The answer to Deputy Martin's question is that it will not be introduced in the lifetime of this Government. It is still on the agenda. The Minister received the ESRI report. It is a first draft and does not take into account the cost reduction factors that are put in there.

Is the Government going to publish it?

There are also issues about the unmet areas that have to be costed.

Will the Government publish it?

Obviously, the Minister will consider the report. It is not going to happen in the lifetime of this Government.

Will the Government publish the ESRI report?

Deputy Martin can believe me. Having examined the scale of the change that is necessary to get the kind of health system that we all need, it is clear it will take some considerable time of the next Administration.

We are further away from it now.

Deputy Gerry Adams is next.

It is a simple matter.

We are short of time.

I asked about the publication. Will the Taoiseach commit to the publication of the ESRI report? Why the secrecy? Why the failure to publish something that should be shared with everyone in this House and with the public generally? What is the Government trying to hide from the public?

Nothing.

Will the Taoiseach make a commitment to publish the ESRI report? That is what I asked.

I know the Minister is considering the figures that are in the ESRI report. As I said to Deputy Martin, this is a first draft. There is a great deal of further work to be done here. I have seen reports of figures but I have not read the report myself yet. I will do so. Obviously, I will consider what the best option is arising from that report, whether to publish it or whether to require further necessary work.

The Taoiseach wants to rewrite the report.

No, there is no need to be so smart at all.

I have called Deputy Adams, please.

The ESRI is an independent body. Will it be allowed to produce the report and publish it?

Deputy Martin was the Minister who famously said-----

We only have a short period.

Just because the Taoiseach does not like the messages that come from the ESRI is no basis for him to go and prevent it from being published. The Taoiseach is a bit of a dictator. If he does not like what the report says, he rewrites it.

Deputy Martin was the Minister who famously said in the Department of Health that he had no responsibility for anything.

I have called Deputy Adams, please.

He said he had no responsibility.

He does not have the courage to say he will publish it.

Sorry, Taoiseach and Deputy Martin. I have called Deputy Adams. We have only three minutes left.

Will the Government publish it? What is the Government afraid of? Will it publish the ESRI report on universal health insurance?

We have only three minutes. I am sorry.

Is it because it exposes the Government's policy, which has been hopelessly flawed from day one? A big, big lie was told to the people and the Taoiseach knows it.

This is the Order of Business. Deputy Martin, please. I call Deputy Adams. We only have two minutes left now.

I remind the Deputy that when he had responsibility he put 120 reports, at taxpayers' expense, on the shelf which were never published.

It is the Taoiseach's responsibility now.

Deputy Gerry Adams is next. Can we have order, please?

The Fine Gael Deputies cannot even remember the five-point plan.

Deputy Deasy knows of the difficulties of Waterford University Hospital because of this Government's policies.

Please, we are finished that.