Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

To the patients as well, most importantly. I thank the Minister for that. He and I discussed the type A contracts that were to be offered at the time of the private hospitals deal and I heard the Minister refer earlier to funding being put aside for additional capacity.

If contracts have been written with the private hospitals, will the Minister again seek for private fee-charging consultants to be included or will they be excluded from providing a service under that arrangement?