With the release of Budget 2015, Minister Leo Varadkar confirmed there would be changes made to the area of health insurance.

Yesterday, Minister Varadkar stated the tide was turning and he confirmed a number of changes that would be published in legislation tomorrow.

He told reporters there would be no increase in stamp duty, that he would reduce the Health Insurance Authority levy and he would allow insurance companies to give discounts to people aged between 18-25.

This morning he spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about the fair deal nursing home scheme, the five euro fee for free GP care and the changes to health insurance.

On the fair deal scheme, Mr Varadkar stated: "We do have an aging population and the cap that is there on the Budget makes it very difficult. We will be able to reduce the waiting lists significantly.

"Even though there 2,500 on the waiting list, every month about 550 get a nursing home placement but 600 people come on."

Mr Varadkar also spoke about the water charges protests which took place in Coolock last night, claiming that the Government has been having a bad month.

He also didn't rule out reports giving every household in the country a €100 social welfare payment to offset the cost of water charges as reported in today's Irish Independent.

The Health Minister also criticised what he called a 'sinister fringe' element to some of the water protests, referring to an online video of protesters outside a Garda station in Dublin's Coolock last night.

He said there were small numbers of protesters who are being violent towards Gardai and are breaking the law.

His full interview is here: