Kenny firm on health cover

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has refused to back down over controversial budget reductions on tax relief for private health insurance schemes.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin warned the move would hit people on basic packages, not just those at the high end of the scale.

Mr Martin said insurance payers were already reeling under the weight of successive heavy increases in duties and needed help from the Government, not more financial pain.