Did the Minister say that of the total posts approved six only were new, when he complimented himself, being proud of his record in having approved replacement posts. Could the Minister explain why he should be proud of approving replacement posts?

I think the Deputy is not correct. I do not yield to anybody in the work I have done in the Department of Health.

That is why the Taoiseach tried to get rid of the Minister.

If the Deputy would refrain, I will give him the facts. I know they are unpalatable but I will give Deputy Haughey the facts.

The only enlightened thing the Taoiseach ever tried to do was to get rid of the Minister.

The facts are that of the 118 posts 90 were replacement. Twenty-eight of those posts were additional ones, including, as Deputy Haughey knows, a new consultant post which will be added, making it 29, for a paediatrician in the South Eastern Health Board area, in Wexford Hospital, which post will be taken up shortly. That will bring the total to 119. I would hope to have a few more in the immediate future, all done within the budget of the Department with no over-runs, no Supplementary Estimates, as was my predecessor's preoccupation.

The Minister should try to tell that to the health boards.

I am calling Question No. 3.