Mr. Éamonn Donnelly:

I would like to respond to that if I may. At no stage are we suggesting that there should be a disproportionate number of administrators. We find that narrative quite demoralising. The proportion of administrators in the entire health service is about 10%. That is comparatively low. We are not suggesting that there should be any more. We are suggesting that we should be valued for what we do. If a patient presents himself or herself to cardiology, somebody has to hand the consultant the chart and make sure that chart is accurate and reflects the proper medical histology. Is that or is that not a part of the coalface? It is classified as administration. Ms Keogh already referenced home help co-ordinators. The net produce of one home help co-ordinator affects 600 homes. They are counted as administrators. The people who pay the wages of doctors and nurses are administrators. We are not suggesting that there should be a disproportionate number. We are not looking for more administrators. We are simply saying that we find this simple narrative tiresome. An assumption is made, without any analysis, that the administrative cohort of 10% is somehow disproportionate and is inhibiting the health system from doing what it should be doing. Deputy Durkan is dead right to say that purpose is putting front-line workers at the coalface.