Mr. Bernard Gloster:

I would say the necessity that the chief clinical officer has outlined is the genuine imperative for us in trying to manage it. Contractually and legally, we are advised that it is correct. I would say where the margin of difference might be is to the benefit of the taxpayer. The Comptroller and Auditor General had pointed to it and I have accepted it. I think there might be some better control of the utilisation of the individual call-out that attracts an individual payment in a small handful of the cases. To answer the Deputy's question, I think we can do better. I do not accept that the €900,000+ earning or the €700,000+ earning, even given the need outlined by the chief clinical officer, is a fully essential payment.