Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

Twelve years after this directive was first mooted, we will now get nine pilot schemes which will not even reduce the non-consultant hospital doctors' hours to the level expected by 2004. Hence, in order to reduce Members' concerns about the impact on the health service in the coming years, what is planned? The Tánaiste mentioned Canada. If we want to establish a consultant-led service, how many Irish graduates are available to return? Does she have any plans to instigate measures similar to those used for decentralisation, that is, to go worldwide in an attempt to gauge how many people might be available? This could even include junior doctors, who are engaged at present in the discussions regarding the European working time directive. How many people might wish to return to Ireland as consultants? It would be useful to know what specialties are available, so we could gauge whether it will be possible to move to a consultant-led service within the next two to three years.

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