Dr. Matthew Sadlier:

I will make some points on this question. The category B contract is the one which allows for a certain limited amount of private practice. I think what Deputy Hourigan is referring to is the category A contract, which has no private practice provision and is a public practice only contract. Heretofore, that has largely been concentrated in several specialties. It applies to about 20% of consultants, but those are largely concentrated in emergency departments and psychiatry. The salary scales referred to by the Deputy are for people employed pre-2012, and not those after that date. If somebody took up a category A contract now, for example, that person would not be on that salary scale.