Mr. Michael Kelly:

I do not have the exact data on that, but with regard to things that can be done my point is that permanent contracts are already in place. I will not dwell on the revised payscales that were introduced in 2012 because I have already mentioned them, but there is work afoot on that.

Mr. Duffy has responded to the question about what sort of things would help to make a career in the Irish health system more attractive. All the evidence we receive suggests it is about professional development opportunities, career development and so on. When one sees the growth in the number of specialist posts in nursing, advanced nurse practitioners and so forth, it is all part of that construct. There is much work already going on, but the more that is done to look at the new areas in which nursing practice can be expanded, and to action it, the better.