Mr. Anthony Owens:

There is a policy in place in the HSE entitled, Towards Successful Consultant Recruitment, Appointment and Retention. It should do exactly as it says on the tin. We met representatives of the HSE and discuss this policy and one of the recommendations in the report was to identify somebody reaching 64 years old and begin the process of replacing the consultant as it takes approximately a year to do it. We did not agree with everything they wanted but we had no problem with that. If it is not being done, I am at a loss as to tell the Senator the reason. There is a policy in place that allows it to be done.