Comments on: BUPA decision another body blow for Harney http://www.johngormley.com/wp/2006/12/14/bupa-decision-another-body-blow-for-harney/ Green Party Leader and TD for Dublin South East Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:30:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Martin O'Rourke http://www.johngormley.com/wp/2006/12/14/bupa-decision-another-body-blow-for-harney/#comment-801 Martin O'Rourke Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:49:59 +0000 http://www.johngormley.com/wp/2006/12/14/bupa-decision-another-body-blow-for-harney/#comment-801 This has been the toughest decision I've ever been involved in because for 10 years we've built up a business that I'm really proud of, and to be forced to walk away now is devastating. We didn't want to be forced out of Ireland but we had no choice which is what we've been trying to say to everyone for some time. We've been trying to find a solution to this problem for ten year. When this scheme was brought in 2003 we warned this would happen but no one would listen. If we stay the reality is that we lose money. My biggest concerns are my colleagues and our members. We will continue to look after our members' health care until their policies are due for renewal and I'll be doing everything I can to help our people in Fermoy and Dublin I didn't like having to make a decision like this so close to Christmas but the timing was not of our choosing. My 300 colleagues in Fermoy and Dublin can be very proud of what they've achieved over the past 10 years and they know I am proud of them. We'll be doing everything we can to make sure they're looked after. Martin O'Rourke This has been the toughest decision I’ve ever been involved in because for 10 years we’ve built up a business that I’m really proud of, and to be forced to walk away now is devastating.

We didn’t want to be forced out of Ireland but we had no choice which is what we’ve been trying to say to everyone for some time. We’ve been trying to find a solution to this problem for ten year. When this scheme was brought in 2003 we warned this would happen but no one would listen. If we stay the reality is that we lose money.

My biggest concerns are my colleagues and our members. We will continue to look after our members’ health care until their policies are due for renewal and I’ll be doing everything I can to help our people in Fermoy and Dublin

I didn’t like having to make a decision like this so close to Christmas but the timing was not of our choosing.

My 300 colleagues in Fermoy and Dublin can be very proud of what they’ve achieved over the past 10 years and they know I am proud of them. We’ll be doing everything we can to make sure they’re looked after.

Martin O’Rourke

]]> By: Tony Manser http://www.johngormley.com/wp/2006/12/14/bupa-decision-another-body-blow-for-harney/#comment-797 Tony Manser Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:44:56 +0000 http://www.johngormley.com/wp/2006/12/14/bupa-decision-another-body-blow-for-harney/#comment-797 Mary Harney has the arrogance to claim that her actions will not cost her perty any votes. As an elderly BUPA member I can assure her it will, and I will actively campaign at the next election to get her and her rip off crew out of government. Mary Harney has the arrogance to claim that her actions will not cost her perty any votes. As an elderly BUPA member I can assure her it will, and I will actively campaign at the next election to get her and her rip off crew out of government.

]]> By: Roy Johnston http://www.johngormley.com/wp/2006/12/14/bupa-decision-another-body-blow-for-harney/#comment-779 Roy Johnston Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:00:43 +0000 http://www.johngormley.com/wp/2006/12/14/bupa-decision-another-body-blow-for-harney/#comment-779 John we need to attack the whole concept of 'privatising' and 'making competitive' what is basically a optional social service upgrade to which people can buy in. Ideally we should not need a buy-in A-stream; we need an NHS. But given that a buy-in facility is being offered, a single one is best, as it minimises the overheads, and is under socio-political control, as a natural monopoly. It can offer various grades of additional service, and the VHI does this. Any 'improvement' in this due to competition would be offset by the additional overheads of of the competing bodies, and the amount of profilt bled out of the system. So the effect of privatising and competition would be to increase the price to the user, and undermine the service provided. It is a natural social monopoly. The whole philosophy of introducting 'competition' to services which are natural monopolies under social control needs to be attacked. Public transport is also a natural monopoly, and its problems should be addressed by having a democratic control structure representative of users, with power to exercise quality control at the principal nodes of the route system, and strategic control over its development, linked to urban planning and the local authority. RoyJ John we need to attack the whole concept of ‘privatising’ and ‘making competitive’ what is basically a optional social service upgrade to which people can buy in. Ideally we should not need a buy-in A-stream; we need an NHS. But given that a buy-in facility is being offered, a single one is best, as it minimises the overheads, and is under socio-political control, as a natural monopoly. It can offer various grades of additional service, and the VHI does this. Any ‘improvement’ in this due to competition would be offset by the additional overheads of of the competing bodies, and the amount of profilt bled out of the system. So the effect of privatising and competition would be to increase the price to the user, and undermine the service provided. It is a natural social monopoly. The whole philosophy of introducting ‘competition’ to services which are natural monopolies under social control needs to be attacked. Public transport is also a natural monopoly, and its problems should be addressed by having a democratic control structure representative of users, with power to exercise quality control at the principal nodes of the route system, and strategic control over its development, linked to urban planning and the local authority.

RoyJ

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