A chara, - A report on Sinn Féin's pre-budget submission in your edition of October 10th says it "retreats from the provision of free universal healthcare". This is incorrect. The health section of our document states: "The only guarantee of real efficiency in our health services will be fundamental reform and the establishment of a universal public health system with access based on need alone, free at the point of delivery and funded from fair and progressive taxation."
We also call on the Government to establish immediately a health funding commission to report within a year on the costs of the transition to a new single-tier, public health system with universal provision, taking into account all spending on health services under the current systems, including State funding and spending on private health insurance.
We call for widening of eligibility for the medical card, the abandonment of the private hospital co-location scheme and of all such Government subsidies for the private health industry.
Our full Budget priorities document, "Realising Ireland's Potential", can be seen at www.sinnfein.ie. - Is mise,
CAOIMHGHÍN Ó CAOLÁIN TD, Sinn Féin Dáil Leader and Spokesperson on Health and Children, Dáil Eireann, Dublin 2.