asked the Minister for Health if he has had any interim recommendations from the Commission on Health Funding which was established in summer of 1988; and the specific dates on which this commission has met to date.

The Commission on Health Funding has met on the following dates: 17 June, 1987; 25 June, 1987; 6 August, 1987; 1 October, 1987; 5 November, 1987; 28 January, 1988; 11 February, 1988; 25 February, 1988; 24 March, 1988; 7 April, 1988 and 21 April, 1988. The commission has not issued interim recommendations.

Has the Minister put a time limit on the deliberations of the commission in view of the dreadful happenings in the health services at present and does he expect an interim report in the near future?

I do not accept that there are dreadful happenings in the health services. As I have pointed out, the commission have not issued interim recommendations and I do not expect they will. I would hope to have their report before the end of this year.

Would the Minister consider, even though the commission are now sitting for almost 12 months, extending the terms of reference of the commission to investigate the many allegations that have been made in relation to cutbacks — allegations have been made in this House and outside this House that deaths have occurred and that extreme suffering has taken place because of the effects of the cutbacks. His Department have failed to respond positively to any of the allegations made, and incidents reported as far back as last October have not yet——

Please, Deputy, this is Question Time.

Will the terms of referenece of the commission be extended to enable them to investigate allegations that deaths have occurred because his Department are not seriously investigating these allegations.

It would be totally outside the terms of reference of the commission on funding and would delay their work if they were to investigate the allegations which, I might say, I do not accept. The only complaint I received which was not fully responded to was from Deputy Allen in relation to a patient in Waterford and the reason for this has been communicated to Deputy Allen, that the consultant involved has left the country.