asked the Minister for Health if he has prepared new legislation on private hospitals and private nursing homes; if he has consulted the Irish Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I will be submitting proposals to Government for draft legislation in the next few weeks, following which I will seek the observations of all interests concerned.

Does the Minister accept that the private hospitals and private nursing homes have made a very valuable contribution to the health care of people in this State and have alleviated charges on the Exchequer because people who were entitled to free medical care did not avail of it? Does he intend to consult with the Irish Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association?

I intend to consult them. The memorandum is currently being circulated to the Government Departments. Should the memorandum come to Government within the next few weeks and be adopted, it would enable me to have consultations at the annual general meeting of the Irish Private Hospitals Association. It is a very short time-table since the annual general meeting is at the beginning of March.

I would refer the Minister to the first part of the question which concerns the valuable contribution made by them.

They have made a unique contribution and some hospitals have made an outstanding contribution. The story is rather like the curate's egg in some respects.