Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I presume I will have ten minutes.

I welcome our witnesses and am glad to renew our acquaintances, it is not so long since we met in different capacities, in a different time, in a different era.

A few things have come to mind which were raised in the earlier session. They concern the challenges facing the delivery of health services at present. The Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, made a submission earlier. Its representatives were concerned about the incapacity of the health services to deliver, alongside the continued combating of the virus, while at the same time providing for the extra surge and service requirements that will arise as we approach the winter. They are concerned that the incapacities are at two levels, namely, in respect of buildings and ancillary facilities on the one hand and in respect of qualified staff on the other. They also made reference the unattractiveness of work in the Irish health service at the present time, for a variety of reasons.

I would like to hear a response on that point first, if I may.