Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I ask that because, as Mr. Gloster will know, it is contract staff rather than full-time staff.

An issue jumped out at me from the report. How can one consultant be paid 24 hours pay for one hour's work? I know from looking at Mr. Gloster that he is as shocked as I am about this. A consultant was paid 24 hours pay and is paid nearly €1 million a year. The example being given is that for one hour, presuming that four patients are seen, a consultant is paid a premium of six hours pay, which equates to 24 hours pay in one hour. Has the practice been discontinued? How did it happen? Are there other instances where contracts like that are in place? I ask these questions because such a practice is insane.