Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I do not have an answer to Deputy Twomey's question, unless one takes into account the experience in respect of the seven recent consultant appointments in Blanchardstown. I understand all the appointees came from overseas, mainly from the United States. There are many Irish doctors in the United States, Canada and other countries and many of them might be attracted home. However, much would depend on the new contract of employment as well as the consultants' possible locations. Clearly, the reduction in working hours for the non-consultant hospital doctors will only be successful when they are replaced by consultant-led services. We will then have an appropriate system of health care delivery. One cannot have one without the other, and the sooner we can begin to recruit such consultants, the better.

This is particularly true if we want to provide facilities at a regional level. For example, some regions have no plastic surgeon, possibly only one dermatologist, as well as significant gaps in rheumatology. Until we secure a better contract of employment which is more cost-effective from the health system's perspective, we will be unable to substantially increase the numbers of consultants. The two go hand in hand and I hope the negotiations can be concluded quickly.

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