Ms Shirley Coulter:

I will deal with the questions from Deputies Mattie McGrath and Sandra McLellan on the point that this form of rostering does not occur in other industries. The key point in our opening submission is that there is no sanction or accountability; therefore, it can happen, day after day. One may ask whether things will change when there is an adverse outcome. There probably have been hundreds of adverse outcomes which, directly or indirectly, may have resulted from doctors working long hours and having to make life or death decisions when extremely tired and exhausted. "Prime Time" broadcast a good programme a number of weeks ago which featured a number of doctors who very bravely spoke out about their own personal experiences and the outcomes when they were fatigued. In answer to the Deputies' questions, there is a lack of sanction or accountability.

On the European Court of Justice case, this may be a question better asked of the HSE in the later session. The IMO received written correspondence from the HSE enclosing the standards. The information was contained in one line, that the European Court of Justice may be taking a case against Ireland. That was the only detail provided of what was potentially a massive and extremely costly case for the country. It was just one line in a lengthy document sent to us.

I will address the questions from Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor and Senator Colm Burke which are related. I thank Senator Colm Burke for his continued interest in NCHD issues. We have been in regular contact in the intervening period since our last meeting and his support is much appreciated by NCHDs.

The questions about the position of doctors whose contracts are due to expire are possibly best asked of the HSE. A new recruitment drive in Pakistan was mentioned. It is my understanding from the HSE that a form of exchange process is being planned as part of which very senior specialist trainees from Pakistan will come to Ireland on a two year rotational basis and then return to their training schemes. We do not have the details.

On the question about the numbers of doctors leaving after July, this will not be clear until the interview process is complete. Interviews remain to be conducted for posts around the country and this process is in train. The HSE will not have an indication until a little later as to the number of vacancies available from July. The IMO has always called for contingency planning because it has become evident, unfortunately, for the past few years, that there have been significant NCHD vacancies.