Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I take it that the HSE is responsible for implementing this plan. However, the proposals issued by the HSE in respect of the new consultants' contract only mention public-only contracts. The Tánaiste will find it difficult to square the circle if public-only contracts are the only contracts up for negotiation. The new private hospitals must be run by consultants who have either private-only contracts or public-private contracts. The fact that we could not get right for six months the tendering for the out-of-hours general practitioner service in north Dublin does not bode well for the Tánaiste's plans for private hospitals. It does not bode well if consultants are to have public-only contracts and these private hospitals are to be supported by the HSE, which is very lukewarm about the proposal. How can the circle be squared?

Is the HSE responsible for hiring consultants at the moment? Comhairle na nOspidéal no longer exists. Who is responsible for approving and implementing consultant positions? Is it the responsibility of some official in the HSE or can the HSE simply appoint consultants as it suits it as soon as the consultants' contracts have been renegotiated?

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