The Opposition parties pressed the Government to publish figures for hospital waiting lists.

The matter was raised by the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, who said that the hospital waiting lists report was very relevant to the estimates debate "in that it deals with the agony many people face". A Government meeting on Tuesday could have approved its publication, he added.

The Taoiseach said that a number of matters from the Department of Health, including the hospital waiting lists, were still before the Government. The list would be published.

The Opposition then called a vote on yesterday's Order of Business, as proposed by the Taoiseach. The Government won the division by 72 votes to 64, and was supported by the three Independents, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae (Kerry South), Ms Mildred Fox (Wicklow) and Mr Thomas Gildea (Donegal South-West).