Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegates. On the RTÉ programme, which is why the delegates are here and why the matter was highlighted, why do they think it took an RTÉ programme to bring this to a head? Surely someone must have known that this was happening? What is the delegates' opinion on that issue?

The terms of the contract are in place. Consultants have a time in their contracts which they should adhere to. Someone is obviously overseeing this. There are consultants not adhering to their contracts and the body overseeing that is not making sure that consultants adhere to their contracts. Many are at fault.

Ms Cody indicated the Minister has said there must be more robust measures but what has been done since it was highlighted on the RTÉ programme? What will be done and why does this happen at all? It was mentioned earlier that consultants were not taking up positions and that this led to temporary contracts. Are the individuals who take up temporary contracts as qualified or as into their jobs as full-time consultants? Is there a potential conflict between the operation of the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the consultants' public contract? Is there undue deference shown by administration officials towards consultants that may not be there towards other employees?