Reilly delays universal health insurance paper

Health Minister James Reilly is to delay the publication of a policy paper on universal health insurance so he can give a full response to many issues raised by his Cabinet colleagues.

Dr Reilly, who said the white paper would not be published for at least a few weeks, insisted he was concerned as anyone else about cost containment under universal health insurance.

The system will provide equal access to care for all, based on need rather than the ability to pay, but it is not yet clear how it will be paid for.