153 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Health if his Department have drawn up a charter for patients in hospital, as promised in Dáil Éireann on 6 February 1990; if it includes or will include a section dealing with the special needs of children in hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I would refer the Deputy to my answers to parliamentary questions on Wednesday, 13 May (No. 57 column 1237) and Tuesday, 9 June (No. 145 column 1884) in connection with the charter. The charter which is based on the principles set out in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress will be universal in application. It will not, at this stage, focus on the special needs of particular groups. However, following publication of the charter, I will be preparing further charters for patients with particular needs, such as children, expectant mothers, the elderly and persons with physical or mental disability.