James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

For additional information, many of the NCHDs are choosing to abandon jobs or training and to go to the locum agencies for employment. They get much greater remuneration doing that with a view to getting out of this country and pursuing their career somewhere else, and that is a real problem.

Part of it is borne by something that I want to put on the record here that I find appalling. There have been reports of NCHDs working overtime and not being paid for that overtime, and having to challenge the relevant hospital management to get the overtime involving their union. The sort of message that sends to non-consultant hospital doctors underscores what I said earlier about the lack of respect. It is something that is being addressed and needs to be fully addressed. There is little point in talking about reducing overtime if one is forcing staff to work the hours and then not paying them. That is pure injustice. There is no excuse for it. It is utterly unacceptable. As Minister for Health, I make that clear here today.