Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 19th November, 2010.

I, MARY HARNEY, Minister for Health and Children, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3 (as amended by section 5 of the section 13 of the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 ) of the Health Insurance Act 1994 (No. 16 of 1994) (as adapted by the Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 ( S.I. No. 308 of 1997 )), hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Health Insurance Act 1994 (Section 17) Levy (Amendment) Regulations 2010.

2. The Health Insurance Act 1994 (Section 17) Levy Regulations 2001 ( S.I. No. 255 of 2001 ) are amended-

(a) in Regulation 3 by the substitution of "Subject to Regulation 4, the percentage" for "The percentage", and

(b) by the insertion of the following Regulation after Regulation 3:

"4.The percentage of the assessable amount hereby prescribed for the purpose of the levy in respect of the quarter ending on the 31st day of March 2011 and in respect of each quarter thereafter is 0.12%.".

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

15 November 2010.

MARY HARNEY,

Minister for Health and Children.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

The Health Insurance Act 1994 (Section 17) Levy Regulations 2001 provide for the imposition of a levy on registered undertakings (health insurers registered on the Register of Health Benefit Undertakings) to fund the costs and expenses of the Health Insurance Authority (HIA). The regulations currently provide for a levy of 0.14% of premium income.

The HIA has, in view of the altered economic environment and the rising cost of private health insurance premiums, reviewed the percentage of premium income paid by registered insurers required to meet the expenses of the HIA and to provide for adequate contingencies. The HIA has recommended that the levy paid by registered undertakings be reduced from the current level of 0.14% of premium income to 0.12% of premium income.

The Minister for Health and Children has therefore decided to reduce the levy in accordance with the recommendations of the Health Insurance Authority.