Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

The process of recruiting consultants continues unaffected by the moratorium. The process includes suppressing two non-consultant posts for one consultant post and is working well, as is evident from the ratios. The first report on this matter was the 1994 Tierney report which was to get us there ten years later. We have made good progress since 2003.

The HSE, the Medical Council and others have been engaged in a process of dialogue concerning training posts. Among the initiatives being pursued are the 80 additional specialist training posts in emergency medicine to deal with shortages, 38 posts in general practice and 85 in surgery, together with the relaxing of visa restrictions for the recruitment of individuals from overseas and offers of longer contracts instead of the short-term contracts that were unattractive relative to Northern Ireland or the rest of the UK and put us at a disadvantage. These initiatives will be in operation and the visa changes have been made. I can give the Deputy the details. These and other changes will be in effect from 1 January 2011.

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