Ms Susan Clyne:

On that point, the HSE knows the NCHD population is transient. They tend to move on every six months. Even what the HSE pays is not representative of the true figure because it never really pays NCHDs in full for the working hours they endure. The HSE does not consider working hours to be a priority. The European working time directive was introduced in 2004. Since then, the IMO has taken the HSE to the High Court on three separate occasions. It has threatened a strike and reached an agreement. There are real sanctions in the agreement. The Deputy is absolutely correct that we insisted on penalties in the hope the system would not pay them and would actually allow people to work safe hours, but now the HSE just chooses to pay the penalties. It is easier.