Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy's first point, in that we need a single consolidated waiting list view. Among other measures, we need electronic patient records to achieve this. Many patients are on many different waiting lists and they all get counted as individual patients. We are making a significant investment in e-health and electronic patient records.

I acknowledge the Deputy's support for the consultant contract. This morning, I heard the public contributions he made yesterday. I thank him and his party. I acknowledge that other Opposition Members have also supported it. This contract is a core part of Sláintecare and is something that we are all behind. A united front in the Oireachtas is important. As the consultant bodies rightly say, we need to hire many more consultants. One of the ways to do so is for Oireachtas Members and the consultant bodies to back the contract and encourage consultants to stay in or return to Ireland so that we can hire more into our public health service.

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