It is not agreed. I understand this proposal relates to the Supplementary Estimate for health. We were informed last week that the Government proposes to make, in a full year, over €1 billion in further cuts to the health service. None of what is involved in this regard has been set out in any detail. There is speculation in today's newspapers about cancellation of routine surgeries. We can only read about these matters in the media. It is most unacceptable that a Supplementary Estimate relating to health should be put through on the nod without scrutiny or debate, particularly in circumstances in which the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, and the Government have failed spectacularly to set out exactly how they intend to make the savings that are required.

I agree 100% with Deputy McDonald. We made the point last week that €1 billion worth of Supplementary Estimates have been put through the House with no discussion during plenary session. It is evident that last year's health Estimate was both fraudulent and flawed.

At least it was not corrupt.

It was entirely corrupt.

It was not fraudulent.

Yes, it was fraudulent.

It is great to hear the brown envelope boys informing us about corruption.

Deputy Spring had better suck it up, because that is what happened.

The point is that last year's health Estimate contained figures which no one had any intention of ever realising. Those figures related to drug pricing, the income from private health insurance - which has disappeared from this year's budget - and agency nursing, in respect of which a 50% cut was proposed. They were included in last year's health Estimate but nothing was done until August when cuts were made in respect of personal assistant services for people in independent living and savage cuts were introduced in the context of home help hours.

Nothing was done until August when there were cuts to the provision for personal assistants, which enables people with disabilities to live independently, and savage cuts to home help hours. These cuts were made because of the fraudulent nature of the health Estimates. That is the reason the Supplementary Estimate is required and there is a need for a debate. I, therefore, ask the Tánaiste to provide the House with an opportunity to have a meaningful debate on the health Estimate, in particular.

I refer to the budget overruns and the extra cuts required as a result a few months ago. They included very significant cuts to home help hours and to the provision for personal assistants for those with disabilities. We do not know the details of further cuts amounting to €780 million due to be made as part of the budget. The Government has put a spin on the fact that extra money is being provided, while covering over the fact that more than €750 million will be taken from the health budget. At the very least, given the great anxiety caused as a result of making the extra cuts amounting to €130 million, we need to scrutinise the Supplementary Estimates in order that we understand the implications they will have in the delivery of health services.

I agree that the Estimates should be scrutinised. They were referred to a committee which considered them. There was ample opportunity at the committee for Members of the House to scrutinise them.

I was at that committee and there was very little time. It was not the Chairman's fault, but no answers were given.

I understand there was not even a vote on the Estimates at the committee. If Members do not do their work at the committee which is the place in which the Estimates are examined-----

I was at that committee.

-----there is not much point in grandstanding here on them when the matter is brought before the House. The Estimates were agreed to at the committee without a vote.

It is an absolute disgrace. The Tánaiste is misleading the Chamber about what happened when the Estimates were discussed in the committee room. I was there, as were other Members. The Tánaiste refuses to have a debate on the Estimates.

Will the Deputy, please, resume his seat? I must put the question.