asked the Minister for Health if he has studied the Reddin Report on the Health Services recently published by the NESC; and if he accepts the principal conclusions of the report.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - NESC Report .
2.
: I am aware of the contents of this report.
This is not a report specifically on the health services. It is the first of three associated reports being produced by the National Economic and Social Council on the development of the board concept of social policy. The second report will examine the basis on which social services are provided in Ireland while the third report will relate current Irish practice to the analysis contained in the first report and will set out the council's conclusions and recommendations. It would be premature to attempt to form definite conclusions until the three reports are available.
: Does the Minister accept the statement made in the report that it is the Government's policy to extend a free, no-means-test health service to the whole population? If that is so, what is the projected time scale for the provision of that service?
: I do not think there is any question of either accepting or rejecting the report at this stage. The Government issued a statement when the report was published. According to my reading of the report, it does not come down firmly either on the side of universality or selectivity. I think it is too early yet to come to any policy decision on the basis of the report.
: I asked the Minister about the statement in the report that they had claimed that the Government intended to provide a free, no-means-test, universal, at-point-of-use health service. Is that a correct statement? Is it a statement of fact of Government policy?
: I did not catch the Deputy's opening remarks—I am sorry.
: It is claimed in the report that the Government intends to provide a free, no-means-test health service for the whole population, free at point of use. If so, what is the time scale——
: I do not think that is claimed in the report.
: That is claimed in the report.
: Not as I read it.
: Question No. 3.
: May I ask the Minister if what is stated in the report is true, that our per capita expenditure of gross national product is much the same as the United Kingdom and other EEC countries and yet we get a less adequate cover or less cover for that percentage? Is that true? If it is true what is the Minister going to do about it?
: The question does not permit the Deputy to raise every matter in the report.
: In any event, according to my reading of the report that is not what the report says.
: We must be reading different reports. The Minister is reading more convenient ones from the point of view of the Government.
: Perhaps my interpretation is a little more accurate than the Deputy's. The Deputy has a tendency to read into things that which he likes to find in them.
: That is nonsense. The statement is in the report and the Minister knows it. He is trying to evade it.
: Question No. 3.