Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 26 Oct 1972

Vol. 263 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Social Security Harmonisation.

34.

asked the Minister for Health if the harmonisation of the social security system expected under EEC conditions will involve a movement towards a common method of financing medical health services generally.

The Deputy will be aware that the Treaty of Rome does not impose specifically on member states the obligation of harmonisation of their social security systems. Indeed the Treaty reference to this subject envisages harmonisation arising from the functioning of the Common Market. More recent thinking within the Communities reflected the view that harmonisation of social security systems in the Communities should develop concurrently with the development of economic and monetary union, a view to which concrete expression is given in the European Summit communiqué in which it was stated that "The Heads of State or of Government emphasised that they attached as much importance to vigorous action in the social field as to the achievement of the economic and monetary union." At this stage, it is impossible to say if harmonisation will lead to common methods of financing medical health services generally.

Can the Minister say what is the general pattern of the health services in the Community at the moment? Is it private or public?

It would take me an hour to describe that.

Does the Minister agree that the major emphasis is on providing private health care? Over 50 per cent in all the EEC countries is devoted towards private health care.

No. That is an over-simplication. It is an enormously complex matter. I have already said to the House that some people quite genuinely wanted a complete insurance system here. In countries where insurance was started for health purposes on the most elaborate basis, it was found quite impossible, psychologically and practicably, to charge the people with insurance premiums that would cover hospital care and so there proceeded to be enormous subventions from the State for hospital care. The practice varies from country to country as between insurance, taxes and rates of one kind and another. I would say that it would take a great number of years before one could have a complete harmonisation in relation to the method by which people pay for their health services.

Will the Minister agree that in England there is considerable concern at the fact that they may have to adapt to the European standards in financing the health services?

Britain has a system in which only 1½ per cent of the insurance paid by people—or is it 2½ per cent? —goes to health services, and the rest is paid entirely by general taxation. That is in contrast to a number of European countries who have a combination of insurance, federal aid, local state or regional aid and property taxes.

No decision has been made on what it should be?

No decision has been made on what it should be.

Barr
Roinn