Last week I raised the issue of patients using private hospitals who are being charged fees for Covid-19 testing. I also told the Taoiseach about a constituent of mine whose daughter is getting chemotherapy and has to pay €250 per session. The Taoiseach gave a commitment that himself and the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, would look into the situation. He used a very strong word and said that no private hospital should be profiteering. I agree with him. I got a phone call yesterday from another constituent of mine. She went to a private hospital which I will not name and she has to go for an operation on 27 July. The consultant told her yesterday she might need as many as three Covid tests. Can I go back to my constituent and tell her not to worry, that the fee will not be there on 27 July? The Taoiseach made a commitment last week. Did he or the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, or anybody tackle or visit the private hospitals to do away with this fee?

The first point I would make is that we do not control the private hospitals in terms of their fee structures. However, I reiterate what I said last week, namely, that there should be no profiteering out of the Covid situation in respect of any patients, be they private or public. Private hospitals should not be levying charges that are disproportionate to the costs of providing those services and which are basically unfair to patients. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is communicating that view to the private hospitals.