Dr. Donal O'Hanlon:

I do not have figures for emigration to the Middle East but I believe it would be a very low percentage. Most of our emigration is to English speaking countries, particularly Canada, Australia, New Zealand and, to a lesser extent, the USA. The salary differential is at least 40% - it is 60% in Canada and the USA - over the newly appointed consultant salary. We are uncompetitive with those English speaking countries that take by far the bulk of our consultant emigration. I have experience of trying to retain people we have trained and lost to Canada where they are paid twice as much.