asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is yet in a position to indicate when a scheme for the provision of additional benefits for persons insured under the National Health Insurance Acts will be introduced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Additional Benefits for Insured Persons.
A Bill to amend the National Health Insurance Acts for this purpose is being introduced today. No indication as to when a scheme will come into operation could be given before the Bill becomes law.
Is it the intention to make the benefits available in the commencement of the benefit half-year if the Bill is law in the meantime?
If the Bill is law in time to operate the scheme. There is no assurance that the Bill will be law in time to operate it as, say, from the 1st January, but it is hoped that the scheme will come into operation within the first half of the new year.
The Minister for Local Government and Public Health will not be in charge of the Bill, will he?
I do not understand the reference.