Mr. Barry O'Brien:

With respect and in the interests of accuracy, the Hanly report also said that we should halve the number of non-consultant hospital doctors in the same time, which we have not done at all. We have maintained the number.

A point was made about recruitment in local hospitals. It is important to stress that the HSE directly recruits only 15% of all non-consultant hospital doctors. We clearly told the committee that 60% are placed by colleges directly into training places. We recruit 15%, which are service posts. I can confirm for Senator Burke that 70% of that 15% are filled by local recruitment. All we have is a central applications office, not a central recruitment process. We get applicants and give them to the local hospitals which then interview them and proceed to make service-level appointments. That is how it works in that area. It is important to say that a significant manpower plan is in place with regard to giving effect to a consultant-delivered service.