We will have an opportunity to speak on the budget later today. I refer to a serious allegation on the front page of today's edition of The Irish Times. Once again it relates to the primary care centres and, in particular, ministerial involvement in that process. The Tánaiste informed the other House that following investigations he was quite confident there was no ministerial involvement in that process. According to the report in The Irish Times, the constituency office of the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, was in very close contact with him on this issue. The newspaper report raises serious questions. If the front page report is accurate it would seem to suggest that either the Tánaiste lied to the Dáil on this issue or, at best, he was himself misled.

I appeal to the Chair. We cannot have that stand on the record of the House.

Notwithstanding the budget debates which will take place over the coming days, the drip-feed of information with regard to this issue is continually damaging to public confidence - whatever little bit remains - in the running of our health service. I ask the Leader to make a statement on this matter tomorrow so that we can put this issue to bed once and for all. I particularly ask Labour Party colleagues on the other side to ensure that happens.

I am sure the printers are working on the Minister's budget speech. I hope that despite reports in the newspapers about all the budgetary issues that members of the Labour Party might reflect on their election manifesto and posters-----

The House will discuss the budget later.

-----which read, "Protect child benefit. Vote Labour." With a matter of hours to go, I hope the Labour Party will be able to intervene to save the families of Ireland.