Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree that an important aspect is the inability of retaining trained doctors in this country, of which pay may be an element. However, another important element is the working conditions which continue to be fairly horrific, considering it is regarded as a step forward to agree not to have people working more than 24 hour shifts. This illustrates the problems facing them and it is the fundamental problem for the Minister.

I ask if the Minister may be able to shed some light on the other figures. I refer to contracts of indefinite duration in the case of staff employed on a temporary basis but as a result of staying on over a period of time have become, in effect, permanent. The HSE does not provide a breakdown but this is an important figure because those employees are potentially employed on inferior terms and conditions than those permanently employed from the outset. I ask if the Minister can access those figures and provide the House with information about what proportion of those employees classified as permanent are actually on contracts of indefinite duration.

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