Ms Laverne McGuinness:

I thank the Chairman and members. I will collate some of the responses because some of the questions were similar.

As for the difference between the two presentations, I have not had the opportunity to review the Irish Medical Organisation's statement, but what I have presented is factually accurate. I draw members' attention, because this issue is of significant interest, to the point made on page 4 of the statement that "In this regard, many doctors do not receive adequate daily rest and many more work in excess of the average 48 hour working week". The aforementioned figure of 48 hours is the requirement under the European working time directive and I have stated the HSE has not delivered or achieved it. Now that we have the standards which were only concluded in January, we have put together an implementation group to strive towards the 48 hour week