Ms Rosarii Mannion:

The record will show that this matter was dealt with very extensively at leadership team and directorate level at the meeting on 11 October 2016. Arising from that meeting, I was tasked with looking at the issue of contracts of indefinite duration, those not on the specialist register, and consultants in unapproved posts. To get an holistic view, those three facets need to be examined conjointly so that we are in a position to respond. I hope the Deputy will be familiar with the report which we published earlier in the year - "Towards Successful Consultant Recruitment, Appointment and Retention". On page 7, the Deputy will see that we have itemised this as a key issue in terms of flaws of governance and administration. This point was specifically picked up. Arising from that, we have been implementing the doctors integrated management esystem, which is giving us full data in respect of the items I have outlined. At this point in time, we have 52 potential contracts of indefinite duration.

Regarding those not on the specialist register, we have the details of where they are currently. What we are doing to address this is again set out in recommendation 1.1 of this report, which I believe has been shared with the committee previously. We are carrying out a specific examination on a site-by-site basis with each of the hospital groups. We have started that and we will be working through it. That will potentially take 12 months to really close off on this issue. There are three hospitals which we need to bring on board with this - Temple Street Children's University Hospital, Beaumont and Holles Street. We are very much on top of this issue. It is not ideal. It is not a situation in which we would like to be.

If one looks specifically at the breakdown of those currently employed who are not on the specialist register, one will see that 14 of them are in psychiatry. Earlier on in the meeting we had discussions around staffing, recruitment issues, waiting lists and so on in that particular area. Before 2008, there was not requirement to be on the specialist register so a lot of these are legacy issues. That is not an excuse, it is just the reality. We are working through it. Of those 14 who are in psychiatry, every one of them will have been assessed for risk and they will be working under supervision. There are clear service decisions which need to be taken regarding this issue but I wish to assure the committee that we are working through this, quite complex, issue. I invite the Deputy to come in to us if she has the time and we will go through that particular system. There are some excellent data available which we have not had previously and which will really assist us in the management of our medical workforce in the future.

I am conscious of the time but we are specifically looking at a much better approach in respect of job planning, workforce planning and sharper recruitment practices in respect of the medical workforce. Again, time will not allow for that today but we are happy to take the Deputy through a specific briefing on that if it is helpful.