Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. The workforce issue is so important. We have seen high levels of emigration of healthcare workers, both North and South, who have gone to Canada, Australia and elsewhere. It also feeds into the broader issues that were touched on earlier - where to house the workforce, whether they have to live in concentrated areas and whether we can expect proper connectivity around the island to get from one part of the island to work in the other part. I thank the witnesses for their answers and input. I understand it is a bit expanded beyond what they are talking about. It highlights further the importance of the thematic discussions this committee will have. I agree with the point Deputy Conway-Walsh made earlier - that this committee should speak to the Department of An Taoiseach and the Government about focusing on additional research - because this area critically needs expanded research. I take the point that none of the systems are set in stone and we all need to be open to discussions about that. I would be very careful around advocating a blending of both systems. In the context of a unitary situation, we need to reimagine something entirely new and different because both systems, North and South, have major issues. The notion of a Bengoa-style report is interesting. The other aspect that will move forward, regardless of where we think it is currently, is how Sláintecare as a model and a system may feature in the North and in any changed constitutional status. I am not sure if Deputy Conway-Walsh wants to come in.