17/12/2015

FG Question 'Who Exactly' Will Pay For SF's Health Plan

Fine Gael has raised concerns over Sinn Féin's proposed universal healthcare plan, asking "who exactly" is going to pay for it?

Raising the question, Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central, and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Health, Jerry Buttimer, said: "It's great that Sinn Féin are supporting Fine Gael's model of Universal Health Care, but what they fail to tell us is who exactly is going to pay for their plans.

"Sinn Féin say that the most effective way to fund health reform is through taxation and PRSI contributions. But who will be taxed more and by how much?

"In their plan they propose introducing free GP care for all, commencing with lower income households. But does this mean they would take free GP cards back from the under 6's and over 70's who already have them and who don't come under whatever income threshold they introduce?

"Sinn Féin claim that people would be better off in their pockets under their health plans, but this is simply not true for almost half of the population. Sinn Féin plan to cancel the relief on private health insurance. This tax relief of 20% on the cost of health premiums currently benefits 46% of the Irish population and can be worth several hundred euro to families across Ireland."

(MH/LM)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

29 April 2016
Sinn Féin Condemns Decision To Cut Mental Health Budget
A decision by the government to remove €12 million from the mental health budget has been condemned by Sinn Féin's TD, Dessie Ellis. Speaking ahead of a protest held on Thursday, Deputy Ellis said: "People suffering with mental health issues are strong, they deal with great pressures every day but they need our support to survive and recover.
19 November 2015
Sinn Féin Slams Govt Health Policy
The government's health policy has been described as a "shambles" by Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams. Mr Adams said that the policy was an "abject failure", and that the Minister for Health has admitted the government's Universal Health Insurance scheme "will not work".
17 April 2014
Govt Accused Of 'Half-Baked' Health Care Proposals
The government has been accused of producing "half-baked" health proposals, with more interest in getting headlines.
02 April 2014
Minister Publishes Universal Healthcare: White Paper
The Minister for Health, James Reilly, T.D. today 2 April published 'The Path to Universal Healthcare: White Paper on Universal Health Insurance'.
27 January 2011
Swine Flu Claims Three More Irish Lives
While the health protection authorities have said the swine flu virus "has peaked" there were still two more deaths in the North from swine flu last week and a further fatality in the Republic.