Dr. Emma Curtis:

It is a considerable disappointment. It is a CHI responsibility. We are here on behalf of the NPHDB but I am a clinician in one of the hospitals and work closely with CHI. We have to acknowledge that there were a number of successful areas of recruitment in moving towards providing the services we are providing. There are particular areas of difficulty in recruitment, which have been discussed. On the ground, it is considered that the inequity in starting salaries for consultants compared to their colleagues who are doing the same job is a significant deterrent to people who are applying for consultant posts. There are a number of issues regarding consultant recruitment across the board in the country. There are areas where it has been successful and we have been able to progress to delivering a significant service in Connolly. It is an area that will need continued attention. With the opening of CHI at Tallaght and the opening of the major hospital, having the right staff in place would be essential.