FINE GAEL in government would introduce universal health insurance based on the Dutch model, leader Enda Kenny told delegates in his opening address to the party’s ardfheis at Citywest, Dublin last night.
Up to 4,000 delegates are expected to attend his televised ardfheis speech tonight. In a show of unity on the platform, Mr Kenny embraced Dublin South-East TD Lucinda Creighton with whom he had a much-publicised dispute at a recent meeting of the parliamentary party.
Pointing out in his speech that universal health insurance was already in operation in Canada and most European countries, Mr Kenny said Fine Gael had made a special study of the system as it was implemented in the Netherlands health service.
“The Netherlands spends only slightly more than us on health on a per capita basis, but has no waiting lists and is ranked number one in Europe for health. Under Fine Gael’s proposals, we will move towards that system, where every person, young and old, has mandatory private health insurance, either subsidised or fully-financed by the State.
“In the first 100 days of a Fine Gael government, we will work with all the major players in the health area to develop an agreed implementation process and a plan so that the proven Dutch system of universal health insurance is best adapted to Irish circumstances.
“This health reform programme represents the most radical change in the Irish health system since its establishment. There will be some who will say we can’t afford such major reforms at a time of recession.
“To them I say we cannot afford not to reform the health system. Standing still means a couple of billion a year.
“As health budgets come under more and more pressure, it is even more important that we make the system as fair and as efficient as possible.”
The introduction of universal health insurance would be the third phase in a process of reform of the health service. “In the first phase, we are going to change the way hospitals work, and make sure that more people are treated outside of hospital by their GPs.
He added: “In a Fine Gael government, the minister will not be able to hide behind the Health Service Executive, as is currently the case.” In the second phase of reform, Fine Gael would change the way that hospitals and doctors were paid.
“Under our proposals, hospitals which can treat more patients at an efficient price will be given additional resources.”
Launching an attack on the Fianna Fáil-led coalition, Mr Kenny said the last two years had demonstrated the “complete inability” of the Government to govern.
“We have seen mistake after mistake, missed target after missed target. We have seen no direction, no leadership and no planning.
“We had a Taoiseach who hadn’t read the Lisbon Treaty, a Tánaiste who thinks the public finances are under control and a Government that thought there would be a soft landing for the economy. They are out of their depth.”
Claiming that Fine Gael had “taken the lead” on critical issues he said: “This is the party of change and new ideas. We called the economic crisis when they were not listening, we called it right on the pay deal and bank recapitalisation and we have looked for reform across all Government sectors that are people-focused.”
Looking ahead to the local and European elections on June 5th, Mr Kenny said 75 of the party’s 733 candidates in the council poll were aged 35 years or younger.
“Young people are represented at every level of the Fine Gael party, which had 10 TDs under 35 elected in 2007, making up one fifth of our deputies.”