Dr. Austin Byrne:

What the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform does in relation to funding is a core issue. The political body has to ask if it, the Oireachtas, is committed to providing an appropriate resource for a working health system. If not, the Members are letting down their constituents and the public. It is a huge issue that is broader than any of us. The members are the representatives and that is a question they have to ask the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. They need to put the appropriate pressure where it is required. We will certainly work on the question of standards.

On contracts, although I thought we were here to discuss capacity today and how we might provide solutions-----