asked the Minister for Health whether he will consider making the cost of the health services a national charge to be standardised for the whole State.

Examination of the arrangements for meeting the cost of the health services is one of the items included in the terms of reference of the Select Committee on Health Services at present sitting. I propose to await the results of this examination before considering any change in the present arrangements.

Could the Minister indicate when he thinks they will be able to promulgate their findings?

The Deputy ought to address that question to his colleagues.

If the Minister would stop talking the way he did on a couple of occasions, we might get along better.

I understood the proceedings of this Committee were confidential.