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

As to other English-speaking countries I do not wish to denigrate any country. There certainly were big problems with this across the water in the UK but I do not know how much progress has been made in recent times. I am sure there has been considerable progress.

I believe this comes back to sentiment. Maybe I will be shot for saying this but judging by many of the doctors I have met I do not believe money is the over-riding issue for them, nor, to a lesser extent, are the hours although that is a real problem. What really drives them away is the lack of a clear career path and the lack of respect. They do not feel valued. They feel undervalued and underwhelmed by it all, having studied so hard to reach that zenith and have MB BAO BCH or LRCPSI after their names, only to find they are hit on all sides as to where they will end up. Some see themselves working extraordinary hours for long years, never having enough time to study and to progress, and they become burnt out. That is not something they are going to do so they will leave this country and go somewhere else where they can enter a training scheme today and know that in six years, as long as they work hard and get their exams, they will be specialists at the end of it. That is what I want for this country. Nor do I necessarily mean it should take six years - it should be five.

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