Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The number of trainees has increased from 84 to 120 since 2005, a significant increase. Discussions are under way between the Health Service Executive, the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Irish Medical Organisation and the Department on many of these issues and they will report to me presently. While I do not like using the word "innovative" in an inappropriate way, we need to be innovative, particularly with those doctors already working in general practice who have not done the original GP-training programme. We need to provide an opportunity for them to qualify for a GMS list. It is unfair they are already dealing with all other patients, including GMS patients, but they cannot take over the GMS list.

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