Ms Susan Clyne:

There was discussion with us approximately six months ago. As the Deputy will be aware, we have issues in that regard and in respect of the 30% pay cut. We maintain the view that we are more than happy to go into talks with the Government on a new public-only contract but we are not at all satisfied that this will address the recruitment problem. A public-only contract is currently on offer, the type A contract, and we cannot recruit anybody on it. The fundamental problem is the 30% unilateral cut applied in 2012, which bore no reference to a person's qualifications or skills. It was simply a matter of political expediency for the Minister. This has had a devastating effect on the recruitment of consultants in our health service. People feel that it is not the about the money but rather about the psychological impact of feeling one is less valued than a person with whom one is working and who is doing exactly the same job.