11.—The following section is inserted after section 33 of the Principal Act:

“33A.—(1) The Authority shall, in each of the periods referred to in subsection (3), evaluate the operation of the provision of a scheme referred to in section 12(4)(a) (in this section referred to as ‘the equalisation payment provision’) with respect to its effects on the interests of health insurance consumers and make a report on such an evaluation to the Minister.

(2) The Minister shall, as soon as may be after the receipt by him or her of a report under subsection (1), cause copies of it to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(3) The periods mentioned in subsection (1) are—

(a) the period of 12 months beginning on the day on which a requirement to make a payment under the equalisation payment provision first arises, and

(b) each successive period of 12 months (other than a period of 12 months in which the equalisation payment provision is not in operation).

(4) The reference in subsection (1) to health insurance consumers shall be construed in accordance with section 12(10)(a)(i).”.