Professor Steve Thomas:

There is no pressure in the Deputy's question. I take on his comments on training. It takes time. Human resources are always the slowest to build and they are the most essential ingredient of any health system to work well. We know we are deficient, particularly in primary and community care where we did not do so well during the austerity years. We lost more professionals from that area than any other. We have recovered less well also, whereby there has been more recovery in human resources in acute settings. Human resources are important and the measures on this in Sláintecare are deliberately phased, particularly if we look at some of the elongated phases. They give us a little more time. I agree we have to think about what motivates people and what will help to recruit and retain people. The international literature shows strongly this is down to quite a broad package of various elements. Salary is one but it is rarely enough by itself. We need to look at training possibilities, hospital environments and good management. A broad package of various elements help people to become satisfied. We need to pay attention to this.

While we have managed to import our way out of some human resource challenges, we have lost people who moved on because when it came down to it, the terms and conditions did not work out or there were not enough training opportunities. People felt they were in dead-end positions. It is clear that is an issue that needs to be examined carefully because that is our key investment.

I welcome the creation of additional capacity in the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive to examine all the issues around workforce planning. We need to consider very carefully how we motivate and retain people, which is not just a matter of salary. Does anyone want to take the second question? It is a poisoned chalice.