Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Okay. To sum up, we said we would look at the workforce plan. Some of the members suggested we would have a session on this topic. It has been raised in many meetings regarding aspects of the health service. The new dental college has been granted full planning permission. We will follow up on this and see where it is within the scheme of things, especially regarding the budgetary implications in this regard. On the capacity issue in respect of the college, we might also be able to follow up this issue with the Minister.

The Minister has a blind spot and I do not know how we are going to address it. I refer particularly to the health service. This is certainly an aspect we can address. We will have the Minister in with us at some stage in the next quarter and we can certainly refer to some of the issues raised today. Regarding the recognition of specialties, there is consensus that we will follow up on this point as well and ask the Minister to consider signing off on this proposal. From what the witnesses told us this morning, the current situation does not make sense. We will follow up with the Department in respect of where this situation is at and what the problem is. I specifically asked if the document the association has, which goes back some time, could be dusted off and sent to us. It could tie in with what Deputy Durkan was saying regarding this matter.

We will also encourage the undertaking of the negotiations promised. It does not make any sense that announcements are made without involving stakeholders, particularly in the witnesses' field. It is ruling by fooling, which I think is the expression used. It does not, though, fool anyone at the end of the day. When people hear an announcement, they expect they can go and access the services in question. When these do not exist, this does not do anyone any good.

I appreciate all the witnesses coming in. It was a useful meeting. Would anyone like to say anything else to sum up?