John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

When I attended the recent People of the Year awards, at which the Minister, Deputy Harney, spoke eloquently, I spoke to a consultant who expressed his view that the Minister's long-term aim is to introduce what he called "yellow pack" consultants, who would not be as well qualified as Irish consultants. I ask the Minister to comment on that. The consultant made the point that some young consultants who have returned from the United States are having difficulties in finding houses in Dublin and living in Dublin. I ask the Minister to comment on his suggestion that media reports of consultants' huge salaries are often exaggerated. Is the Minister aware of the interesting RTE documentary series, "Junior Doctors", which highlights the excessive hours worked by such doctors? They work even harder than we do, which is saying a lot. When we have been working for many hours we can go on auto pilot, but junior doctors have to make decisions of life and death in such circumstances. Does the Minister agree they should be remunerated properly for all their work and responsibility? Does she believe their hours should be cut, for the sake of patients?

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