Dr. Maura Pidgeon:

More important, I hope I have provided some rationale for the need for the annual retention fee to have gone up at that time. In respect of the Senator’s point about the concerns about the running of the organisation, I hope it is clear that the organisation has been going through an enormous period of change and during that period there will be considerable stresses within the organisation at different times. The exceptional circumstances that the organisation has had to cope with over the past six months have not helped that situation. Given the circumstances, I have to acknowledge the enormous work and commitment of the staff in the organisation in registering the number of nurses we have now.

As a State agency, we are self-funded. Independent regulation is a cornerstone of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011, as it is for all the health professions. Needless to say, within that structure there are reporting and oversight mechanisms in the parent Department, and there would always be consultation and discussion about issues pertaining to the organisation, funding and policy direction. That is what I meant by the board and its-----