Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I am inclined to agree with Deputy O'Shea about the urgency in implementing the recommendations. In the summary of the major work packages required for the delivery of the future medical services, most of the proposals seem to be scheduled as immediate or short term. Looking at the page, one can see these words all the way down. That no recommendation has yet been implemented from a report that took a number of years to produce and was published last June means it cannot be a matter of urgency. This is not the message that is given out.

The general feeling among the representative bodies is that the Minister should get on with it so they can know what hand he is playing in this. They feel the recommendations should be implemented as soon as possible because they have been waiting around for so long.

I want to ask the Minister about a particular aspect of the report, although he may not be able to answer it here. The report, as he knows, successfully identified many of the obstacles that deter non-consultant hospital doctors from entering careers in the Defence Forces. One of the main issues is that time served in the medical corps is not recognised by professional training bodies. Since the report was published, has the Minister consulted with the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Irish College of General Practitioners to secure the necessary recognition for doctors who have served time in the medical corps? This is a critical issue. If the Minister could ensure such recognition, I am assured more doctors would join the Defence Forces.

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