asked the Minister for Health if she expects that the increased health charges which the Coalition are introducing will result in greater State control of the health services.

I have no expectation that the raising of additional income by way of health contributions to supplement the cost to the Exchequer of the health services will result in greater State control within the services.

Will the Minister not agree that in Ireland we have a unique and valuable mix of State and voluntary health services which has worked very well? Further, will he not agree that to take a tax of £87 million in respect of health contributions will make it more difficult for voluntary and private hospitals to survive and will force more patients to use the State-owned services? In effect, this would be nationalisation by stealth. Further, will the Minister not agree that the increased VAT, the increases in the consumer price index and the proposed increases in hospital and prescription charges announced yesterday by the Minister for Finance will accelerate this trend?

The question asked if the Minister expected that the increased health charges will result in greater State control of the health services. Now the Deputy has asked many more questions. I cannot accept that the increase in charges will result in any greater State control. As I explained to the Deputy recently, in reply to questions and in an Adjournment Debate, the figure he has quoted is out of context. It is part of a taxation package and he has not taken into account the benefits that will accrue from it.

8.