Dr. Colin Doherty:

Not at all. They were managed through contact with the primary care nurses using e-mail. We are in contact with primary care nurses and GPs are very eager for this to happen. However, it will not happen until the contract negotiations have concluded.

With regard to who is accountable and what is happening in Cork, I take responsibility for it. I act on behalf of the HSE and I am the clinical lead for the programme. I was given control of the budget to hire the nurses. I oversaw the interviews through the national recruitment service. I know they were interviewed, but they have not been put in place. I must take responsibility for this on behalf of the HSE and the national programme.