Mr. Robert Watt:

We also have a large number of new GPs entering and leaving training and entering the profession as well. I accept that there is a demographic issue at the other end where GPs are retiring. Yes, our Department has been engaging with the IMO on this and will now have further engagement given the Government's announcement yesterday.

It is about additional nursing staff, administrative staff and other supports. In the context of the increase in capacity that has been proposed, the Government is very anxious to hear exactly what types of supports they need. We have had an early engagement and we will have further engagements, no doubt, in the weeks ahead. The Government is determined to implement this from next year so we need to have those plans in place and this commitment to increase those resources this year as well as next year. On the exact details, we want to engage further with the IMO and that is what we intend to do over the next few weeks.