Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree they have been treated as the poor cousins in public health. I want to see them having consultant status. It is moving quickly. There has been much work done between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Obviously, these are contractual. It is a very significant increase in pay and, as the Deputy will be aware, these issues must be syndicated at a Government level.

I can assure the Deputy that the threat of strike action did not speed things up. We were already moving on this. I would love to have had it over the line by now. It is a top priority and I want it done quickly.

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