Vol. 510 No. 2
41 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason it was decided not to publish the consultancy report (details supplied) containing an objective assessment of the development of the health insurance market since the arrival of a competitor to the VHI. [17301/99]
My Department has a major role in the promotion of competition in all areas of the economy and in the past has sought contributions to policy formulation from outside bodies or individuals in order to enable it to further its ongoing policy development. In regard to the health insurance sector, as a new competitor, BUPA entered the market in 1997, my Department decided to ask Moore Mc Dowell and Joe Durkan of the department of economics, UCD, for an objective assessment of the development of the health insurance market since the arrival of a competitor to the VHI. As their opinion was not intended for publication but rather as one contribution to internal departmental competition policy formulation at that time in respect of the health insurance market the issue of publication did not arise.
