Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The issue must revolve around the meaning of the word "facilitate". If I were to take a benign interpretation of this, it would be to the effect that the board would be required to co-operate with the postgraduate institutions which require their students, such as house doctors etc., to have experience at ground level. A situation often arises among all sorts of professional groups, from psychologists to teachers and others, whereby they cannot get the experience they require because others are too busy to make space available to trainees.

If "facilitate" means that facilities will be made available, this is positive. However, if it means encroachment in any way on those who deliver the service at present, it would be appalling and probably in breach of other legislation which goes back many decades. We need clarification on this.