Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

During 2011 the HSE established a system to identify and record the numbers of staff - approximately 2,100 - who were expected to leave before the end of what is known as the "grace period". The most recent information available indicates that in the period from September last year until the end of February next, some 3,500 staff will have retired from the health service. Approximately 1,500 retired during the four month period to the end of December 2011 and the remainder have indicated that they will leave by the end of February.

The comments made by Dr. Burke were outrageous. It was beyond the norm for a medical person of his stature to equate the process of staff legitimately leaving the health service under the programme with an attack - in the context of paying back money to German banks - on babies and pregnant mothers. I am aware of Dr. Burke's interest in serious health reform on which he has written many good articles during the years. Deputy Willie O'Dea who comes from the mid-west region will know that it is the Government's intention to restructure the health service in order that everyone will have access to services as close to home and in as efficient a manner as possible.

The Minister for Health approved the HSE's service plan in the past two weeks, with a contingency to the effect that the first review of the plan will take place at the end of February. The reason for this review is that the picture will become clear on the number who will have left the health service and also in respect of the categories and sectors they will have left. The Deputy can take it that the HSE has a contingency plan. However, it is not possible to determine the outcomes until we know the numbers of those who intend to leave. As the Deputy is aware, staff can decide to remain or leave right up to the deadline. Obviously, there will be pressure points. Where these will be will depend on the number of staff who leave, for example, the maternity service in the mid-west region or elsewhere. The Minister has made it perfectly clear that once the position on the numbers leaving particular sectors becomes evident, the plans of his Department and the HSE will come into play. We want to see a situation develop where all patients, be they young or old, will be given the best treatment which the medical services can provide.

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