Mr. Tony O'Brien:

On that point, I will be seeking to satisfy myself that the distribution of personnel throughout the service is correct and that we are using all of our talent in the most appropriate and effective manner. On the absenteeism issue, from next year we will be only funding replacement of staff at the acceptable level of absenteeism, in respect of which our national target as provided for in this year's service plan is 3.5%. We have yet to have a discussion on what it will be next year. Some locations are achieving this and others are significantly at variance with it. We published the first full month's data in respect of July, which the committee has before it. We will be moving to publishing on a quarterly basis, which is the more commonly accepted way of publishing absenteeism data. We are putting a sharp focus on this issue.

On the earlier question about financial systems, at the end of the week of my appointment I received two sets of correspondence, the first of which was from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to my formal appointment as Accounting Officer, including the various enclosures one receives reminding one of one's obligations. The second was a draft copy of the Ogden review from the Department. The two do not make good companions as reading sets. Following publication of the review we will be able to talk about what we have done already to bring about improvements. As any Accounting Officer would wish, many of the legacy system systems have been resolved at this point. I am committed to working as hard as I can to ensure the remaining issues are resolved. I mentioned the issue of contemporary enterprise-wide solutions a number of times in my evidence today, which is an indication of the priority I attach to them as a means of bringing financial control to the health service.