Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

In the context of the reform programme of Sláintecare and having the Sláintecare contract and dealing with private care in public hospitals, etc., all of which is part of a piece, if the basic Sláintecare contract is not in place none of the rest will follow.

Related to that is the threat of strike action and the decision to support strike action by the junior hospital doctors. Mr. Reid seems to be making excuses about why people are going away. There is an important piece of research that was done by Dr. Niamh Humphries on the exact reasons we cannot hold on to hospital doctors. It is very informative. I understand the Minister heard a presentation on it recently. I do not know whether Mr. Reid has, but it is important that it would inform action in relation to the threatened strike.