Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The charge made is that it was not value for money but it was there if it could be used.

That is the first point. The second one is that it was a value to the lives of all those people who could be put at risk if they caught the illness. That is why the criticism is misinformed in that respect.

The question I wish to ask Mr. Breslin is one which affected some of my constituents, that is, the contract consultants were asked to sign. I appreciate and support the fact all work was public work, whether in public or private hospitals, and the income the consultant received could not be greater than the public pay. The question that arose, and it is a key point that must change, was what if I was an experienced consultant who might have 3,000 patients, and who had always maintained them with my own secretary or PA and in my own rooms? It is fair to say Mr. Breslin needs to look at that again should we have a return of this evil virus. Mr. Breslin needs to be able to meet the real costs of a consultant who has to manage his or her caseload. One consultant told me that it was like an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg was those in hospital but all the other people were outside. One has to meet them regularly and look after communications, appointments, and staff. Does Mr. Breslin think he ought to reconsider that issue now so that in the future, a consultant would be recompensed for those real, tangible, provable, additional costs that do not apply in the public sector? A consultant in the public sector has the back up of the hospital, he or she has administrative staff and so on. Does Mr. Breslin think that is an issue everyone could work on constructively?