May we take the opportunity to say a few brief words?
Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013: Fifth Stage
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."
Very briefly, as we have moved into Private Members' time.
It is important nevertheless. Two of my amendments have been disallowed. I want to-----
I am sorry, but is the Deputy going to make a speech? We have gone into Private Members' time and I will need to stop the debate if the Deputy is going to speak for half a minute. The Bill can resume tomorrow.
It would be preferred that the Bill would close at this point.
In that case, I will ask the Deputy to-----
I am not opposing its final passage. I just wanted to make a couple of remarks.
It is important to understand that we accept that risk equalisation is essential if we are to have community rating where we will see a situation where the same premium for particular health insurance plans, regardless of age, gender or health, are accessible. It is only in the context of the health insurance market and the type of health funding that exists in this State currently that we are prepared to tolerate what this Bill and its predecessor pieces of legislation provide for. Ultimately, it is critically important that we move to a situation where we have equal and speedy access to health care on the basis of need alone and paid for through fair and progressive taxation. This is a situation that we need to get away from, not to perpetuate.
That said, and given the shortness of time, I will not have the opportunity to make a few other points that I wanted to make, but I am willing to accept that the legislation should progress and I will not be opposing its final passage.
I thank the Deputy. I also thank all of the contributors for their contributions.
Question put and declared carried.