Mr. Liam Doran:

Yes. I was not at a meeting between the Department and the HSE about the workforce and nurse staffing, but I can suggest with fair confidence that it was aware that the announcement was going to be made. That was completely contradicted and turned upside down three days later by the statement. It is very hard to cite two countries where the skills mix and professional matrix for registered nurses at degree level are comparable. For example, what qualifications are required? Is there a second licensed nurse? Is there a qualified HCA? What level of qualification is needed? It is very hard to compare like with like, but we were trying to grasp that nettle in a proper way over the next 12 months. This plan rips it asunder. We wanted the stability of being able to do that in 12 months, but the HSE came along and announced all the cuts in the here and now. It renders questionable how valuable that exercise will be. We will participate fully. Midwifery is in very bad order in terms of numbers and we need that to be addressed. We will always turn up and participate, but it breaks one's heart to turn up and participate over here and the HSE is initiating draconian cuts without engagement over there.