Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I fully appreciate that and agree that it is fair. It balances things out. However, I am concerned about people who were not in that scenario back then but are now by virtue of experience. Given the nature of healthcare delivery and the recruitment crisis in the health service, people who would not be eligible to be on the specialist register are now acting as consultants. Would they not be able to claim, under this section, an entitlement to be on the specialist register by virtue of their experiential learning, training and so forth, which do not necessarily amount to a qualification? Could they not do what the group of 30 to 40 practitioners can do, which is to go to the Medical Council and ask for recognition for their work? These people are acting as consultants. All of their experience since taking up their acting post is relevant. Whether they have a contract of indefinite duration or not is irrelevant; they are still acting. Are they not entitled to the benefit of this legislation? Would it be deemed unfair if this Bill goes through as is? Would such people not consider it unfair that they could not benefit from this legislation? Could they not go to the Medical Council under this provision? That is my primary concern.