Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Deputy Liam Twomey is both a medical practitioner and a politician. I agree with him that it is regrettable there has been a long, drawn out mess for so long and that we have to face the situation under fire-fighting conditions, but nevertheless well-thought out fire-fighting conditions. I commend Deputy Ó Caoláin on a very measured consideration of the Bill. He points out the weaknesses in the framework of delivering medical education and converting that education into practical experience through the hospital system. I have two brothers who are general practitioners, who went through medical school followed by the junior hospital doctor system. In those days, 30 to 35 years ago, the titles of the medical posts in hospitals ranged from consultant down through registrar and senior houseman to junior houseman. These terms are no longer used but rather the titles now are consultants, non-consultant hospital doctors and pre-registration qualified doctors. Deputy Ó Caoláin pointed out that a public service consultant post has a salary of €250,000 a year and that there is a duty on such a person not to concentrate that much on private practice and only to take on a small level of such work. This example in a profession trickles down and it encourages loyalty, commitment, enthusiasm and support from the people who are newly qualified.

One of the other features of the system is the almost impossible challenge of the six-monthly and one-yearly contracts. Every 1 January and 1 July sees a rush to secure hospital posts. Unless there is a compensation for the unsocial demands on junior doctors, there is a great temptation for them to go abroad to avail of research facilities and other medical opportunities arising. It is a pity we cannot swing some of our economic resources into research and into making the schedules of junior hospital doctors more conducive to a balanced way of life. To work 80 and 90 hours a week on very anti-social rosters does not make sense. The challenge is to look at the whole framework from the classroom education through to clinical education, post-graduation experiences and the development of further experience. I congratulate the Minister and the Department staff on dealing with the emergency by means of this legislation.

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