Mr. William Prasifka:

The Medical Council is very concerned about that for a number of reasons.

Specialty recognition is given to doctors who have gone through significant training. This is deemed to be important for them to operate at the level at which a consultant should operate. It is also concerning because it is quite apparent to us that the HSE is not hiring these people because it wants to hire them; it is hiring them because it cannot find anyone else. It also tells us the important story that there are some positions that are no longer attractive for specialists to work in. This is concerning.