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

It is alarming that 55% or thereabouts go to Australia. If other locations are included, that figure must increase to an alarmingly high level. I cannot understand how we can keep our health services going with that level of emigration. We need to find out, if we can, exact and precise numbers in respect of emigration. We must ask ourselves whether we can continue like this. I know that we are accused of having one of the most expensive health services in the OECD. People on either side of the argument will talk about that. However, if, having educated and preparing doctors, we are losing them to the extent we are, it will be virtually impossible to provide a health service at home. There is a danger that the health service at home in Ireland will degenerate. This problem is multiplying annually. The service will degenerate to a great extent, making it impossible to have a level playing field insofar as working conditions are concerned. I wanted to make that point. Do any of the witnesses wish to comment on that or do they have any particular views as to how to challenge that issue? It must be challenged one way or the other. Pay is one way, perhaps in the short term. I do not know. If somebody would like to talk about that, they should by all means do so.