Mr. Barry O'Brien:

The service posts are 19% and to be fair, that is one of the issues. Another issue is we have never had more consultants employed in the public health system and have never had more NCHDs employed in the public health system. It is important to point out that while the Hanly report recommended a redistribution involving more consultants and fewer NCHDs, the HSE has been ploughing ahead in increasing the numbers of both. There certainly are challenges and there certainly is a need to revisit this issue. The HSE is committed, with the professional organisations representing all NCHDs and consultants, to engage in that and we will start that process next week. However, there certainly are lessons to be learned in this regard and things to improve. I will ask Professor McGovern to deal specifically with Deputy Ó Caoláin's issue in respect of Pakistan and others. Mr. Condon will deal with the issues raised on a hospital basis by Senator Burke. He also will comment on the issue raised by Deputy Mitchell O'Connor.