Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to follow up on Deputy Burke's line of questioning. If a woman attending an obstetrician in public hospital is in mid-examination and there is a crisis in a theatre, the obstetrician will run out the door. I have been in that position a number of times. I imagine while they are running out the door and getting to the theatre to save somebody's life it is very difficult to quantify whose time it is on. I agree it is difficult to separate the two when a patient is depending on the professional to come to their rescue in the public system. However, it is of concern to this committee that it would be left to people's own honesty to follow up on breaches of the contract, irrespective of what mix of a contract people have.

Based on today's submission, I note the cost of claims to the State have increased in recent years. I am referencing the clinical indemnity scheme. In 2016, it was €61 million; in 2017 it was €88 million. Am I right? No, it was much more. On the clinical indemnity scheme it was €2.8 billion, an increase of 17% on the previous year. Is that correct?