20 Feb 2013, 17:36
The Committee on Health and Children will discuss health insurance when it meets with representatives of Health Insurance Authority, Voluntary Health Insurance, Aviva Health Insurance, Glo Health and Laya Healthcare tomorrow, Thursday, 21st February 2013.
Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “Health insurance plays an important role in the delivery of health care, not only is it important for those who have policies but it also provides an important income stream for hospitals. As the State progresses towards a system of universal health insurance it is vital that in the meantime health insurers continue to provide quality services to their customers. The Committee will discuss the various issues that face the health insurance sector highlighting the challenges which face many families in their efforts to maintain cover as the cost of policies continues to increase.”
Before the Committee meets with the Health insurance companies, it will consider scrutiny of EU legislative proposal COM(2012)788 with officials from the Department of Health,
On the 19th December 2012, the European Commission published a proposal for a new EU Tobacco Products Directive. This proposal seeks to up-date the existing Tobacco Products Directive which was introduced in 2001. The proposal concerns the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products in the EU and seeks to put in place measures to make tobacco products and smoking less attractive to young people with the overall effect of reducing initiation rates.
The meeting takes place tomorrow, Thursday, 21st February, 2013 at 9.30am in Committee Room 2, LH 2000.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
ENDS
Committee Membership:
Deputies
Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Independent
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Senators
Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fine Fail
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent