James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am bemused. The reality is that, as Minister, I do not become directly involved in industrial disputes. The Department and the HSE handle these matters. If I have to become involved it is usually when matters have become extraordinarily serious and require direct ministerial involvement. I must put on the record of the House that I have done more in respect of this issue than any previous Minister by setting up the group in question at the beginning of the year in anticipation of this problem. The group was to address and work on the problem so that we would not have the situation we had some years ago when we had to undertake special recruitment overseas to bring in people. That is the first point.

Second, I refer to the group set up under Brian McGrath to create a clear career path. That is the first time this has been done, by involving the actual NCHDs so that they can get what they want from it. No disrespect to any particular group, but it is the interns, senior house officers and registrars who are not on the specialist training schemes. The SPRs are already on that scheme and their career path is clear for them. I want to retain as many of them as I can in this country. They also have an input but it is the lower grades, the younger doctors, that I want to see being sorted out so that they can stay here and continue to contribute to the land that reared and has educated them.

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