Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fair enough. I understand the team will meet every second month. Do we have an exact timeline for when the meeting will occur? Obviously, it will result in a recommendation for Cabinet and it is important to have an exact timeline on it. Will it be next week or the week after? We saw today another passionate presentation from CF sufferers and their family members. As we know, every day counts for these people. As such, an exact timeline would be appreciated. I ask the Minister to outline it.

I brought the following matter up as a Commencement matter. It relates to the Institute of Community Health Nursing. As the Minister knows, our public health nurses do great work in our community and primary care system. Will the Minister, the Department and the HSE engage with representatives of the institute on their funding. They are being woefully underfunded now.

We have had the European health consumer index and some people place different weight on the data that comes out of that. One of the countries which has successfully managed waiting list times is Macedonia. The Minister is probably aware of this. Macedonia has reduced waiting times to approximately six months with a simple online live system. GPs can go online in the consultation with the patient sitting there and access consultants' diaries, see what physicians have vacancies and refer appropriately. That system can also be used for diagnostic scans. Can we look at adopting, reviewing or investigating such a system?

To recap, my main question is on equal status for the NAGP and the possibility of the medical profession perceiving a cosy cartel. I also asked for a finite timeline on Orkambi.