Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin:

It is a matter for Government policy. We have clearly issued a policy directive and everybody is obliged to comply with Government policy. There is a substantial legal basis for Government issuing policy in these matters and it has done that.

I do not want to detain the meeting but it is crystal clear that the representatives from St. Vincent's Hospital must come in and meet the HSE and deal with the issues on a face-to-face basis. They should resolve all of the questions that are outstanding. That has been made clear by the Minister for Health and, as Secretary General of the Department of Health, I am making that clear.