Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am next on the list to ask questions. I will be very brief.

My first question relates to Sláintecare and the implementation of it at a regional level. On the replacement of the independent chair for the consultant contract negotiations, that person retired back in December because they were appointed at High Court. A new chair has not been appointed. We now have a scenario where there are 838 permanent consultant posts vacant. There is a major concern in places like Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Kerry, where one in four consultant posts is vacant, but are now it at one in two because they cannot get replacements. What is the problem in appointing a new chair? When will it happen?