Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the financial emergency measures legislation applied to the whole fee rather than just the income component. That has been the single most destructive factor in general practice over the past five years. As Deputy Durkan implied, one cannot fill a GP practice now because the financial model is unsustainable and not viable because the emergency legislation was applied to the gross fee rather than just the income component. It is a critical factor in the manpower issues in general practice now.