Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let us not lose the ones we have. It would be an appropriate recognition of the work they have done. I am in their corner on that and if I have a role to play in the next Government I would like to advocate to make progress there.

Deputy Shortall made a fair point on non-consultant hospital doctors. I will discuss that with the HSE. Obviously we made a decision to bring forward a number of graduations to get more medical students into intern years and I will establish the facts on that.

In regard to the Intensive Care Society of Ireland, I always listen very carefully to what its president, Dr. Catherine Motherway, says. With the additional capacity now in place, we have a chance to try to regularise some of that. It would be a crying shame if we did not.

I hear the Deputy on screening. She has not played politics with it in the House. I am not going to. I am going to follow the clinical advice on recommencing the programmes in a safe way.

On people power in the health service, the Sláintecare contract provides an opportunity. It was hard fought to get agreement on it and arises from the Sláintecare committee. We now need to hire new consultants on the basis of the Sláintecare contract. I will reflect on what the Deputy said about private hospitals and put some of my thoughts in writing to her in that regard. I hear what she is saying in terms of trying to come with a new and imaginative way of doing things rather than continuing with the old way.

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