Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted that the Government has not put off making a decision on the introduction of Universal Health Insurance (UHI) until next year.
Under Opposition pressure in the Dáil this afternoon, he said the White Paper on UHI would be published “in the next couple of weeks’’.
Mr Kenny said the Government had today confirmed the concept and principle of UHI, but there was clearly a need for consultation with people so everybody understood what was involved.
He added that under UHI a package of services would be available to people, including access to primary and GP care.
The Taoiseach said he could not say what the average cost per package would be because UHI would not be implemented in full for some time.
Mr Kenny rejected a claim by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin that UHI would mean an increase in health insurance costs for people.
“I do accept that this is the most radical and fundamental change in the health structures since the foundation of the State,’’ he added. “We cannot continue with a system which is inequitable, unfair, penalises those on low incomes and which is costing an extraordinary amount of money.’’
Mr Martin said Mr Kenny had confirmed that a decision on UHI was being delayed. "You have said you are confirming the concept,'' he added. "But you have confirmed the concept since before the last election…money follows the patient, all that kind of soundbite stuff that got you over the last election.''
Mr Martin said he was not the first person to say that UHI would be more expensive for people. "Ministers Noonan and Howlin were the first to raise the red flag on this,'' he added.
He challenged Mr Kenny to publish the memo circulated to the Cabinet, adding that "if The Irish Times can get it, surely the Dáil can get the memo''.
