Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased the Minister agrees with me with regard to the health service, because we cannot come in here again the next time we have questions on public expenditure and still have a lacuna in terms of information on the health service. Will the Minister consider issuing a circular setting out a minimum period for which a person can be rehired temporarily? If the period is over six months, there is a case for hiring somebody new to do the job. I accept the need to rehire retirees where a project is near completion, where technology is involved and where it could take three to four months to hire staff with the relevant qualifications. However, there should be a limit on the period for which they can be rehired.

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