Many of our training guidelines were developed jointly by Ireland and the UK. I refer in particular to junior doctors. If someone does 48 hours per week in Ireland and the UK diverges from the working time directive as regards training and allows someone to work up to 60 or 65 hours per week, the long-term effect on Irish people who have done two or three years of training in Ireland before going to the UK could be that they would not get the same recognition.

Regarding the exchange between Ireland and the UK of people working in medical services, many junior doctors stay in Ireland for two or three years before going to the UK for another three or four years and then returning. It is important that this co-operation on training continues. Otherwise, both countries will suffer. An eye should be kept on this.