James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for her reply. Notwithstanding the industrial relations issues with non-consultant hospital doctors, I am concerned at the plan to take up the slack. Many doctors are working extraordinary hours — up to 80 a week. If such doctors are now going to be working 48 hours, where are the additional staff to take up that slack? I certainly do not approve of either the overtime bill or of asking doctors to work such hours because I do not believe it is safe. Truck drivers would not be allowed drive for that number of hours in a week. Doctors making life and death decisions when they are half asleep on their feet from exhaustion is not the way to run a safe health service and it is designed to cause trouble. I fully agree with this drive to reduce hours but where are the additional staff? A reduction in staff means a reduction in service unless additional non-consultant hospital doctors are employed and this is not what the Minister wishes to do as she wants a consultant-delivered service and I agree with her. However, where are the consultants?

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