Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The number of unfilled consultant posts at Mayo University Hospital is reaching critical levels. I have a responsibility to the people of Mayo to raise this issue as I want our hospital in Castlebar to succeed into the future. With over 700 unfilled consultant posts in hospitals around the country and the age profile of consultants in Mayo University Hospital being much closer to retirement age there needs to be action to get new specialist registrars into our hospital. I understand there are still issues ongoing to remediate consultants pay parity and restore trust between consultant bodies and health service management around financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI. Will the Taoiseach provide an update on when we will see agreement reached on the implementation of consultant contracts, which we need if we are to have any chance of getting vacant posts filled?

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