Universal health insurance plans
Billy Kelleher asks for details and legislation on universal health insurance before the election; the Taoiseach says the Bill will not be available before the next election.
Universal health insurance is a commitment in the programme for Government. When will we see the finer detail of that commitment? When will a Bill be published? Can we have that debate well in advance of the election, given the fact that there seems to have been a great deal of undermining of the proposal by some Ministers? Could we have that Bill or the details of what the Government is proposing in advance of the election? The Irish people would like to know that the Government is proposing to hike up private health insurance costs by dramatic sums.
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I can advise the Deputy of the progress made towards universal health insurance-----
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-----as I have referred to it on many occasions previously. Regarding the bankruptcy Bill arising from a text the Deputy might have received, the Minister for Justice and Equality will come before the-----
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How does the Taoiseach know about the texts?
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We are discussing Deputy Penrose's Bill, not a text.