Ms Angela Fitzgerald:

It is important to say that there was a great deal of negative media coverage. It is not correct to say that there is a risk associated with our being a net exporter; nor is there any threat to the programme. That is important to say for people who are waiting for transplants as well as for the committee today. Two issues were raised. The first was the issue of transplant surgeons, and we have some vacancies in that regard. One vacancy has arisen through retirement, and we might take on board some of the comments that were made here today on retirement age. One vacancy arose on foot of a personal decision by a person to go back overseas.