Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

If that was the case, and I am glad the Minister has said it is not, we are too small a country to do it. In the past, once there was a family tradition established in the medical profession, it would carry on. Thankfully that has been eliminated by the present system.

If there is a commitment to invest resources in this plan it will succeed and we will get the number and calibre of people we need in the medical profession. It will require investment, particularly if we wish to increase our current intake of Irish and EU students. There will necessarily be a subsequent decrease in the number of non-European students from Asia, Africa and America. We have taken those students from outside Europe for financial reasons, to balance the Exchequer input; that was part of the problem that led to the present crisis. Many of those trained in our medical schools went back to their own countries, leaving a need here. Now there is an opportunity to address that and strike a balance in favour of Irish students. They may have to go abroad for further specialist training but the Minister might rectify that in due course.

The Irish intake is currently made up of students who have just completed their leaving certificate but now there will be a graduate intake, with a ratio of 60:40 in favour of second level entrants. The graduate students who enter training will come in with experience of life in another profession and will add a level of experience greater than that of ordinary entrants.

I welcome the proposals in the report. I would like the Minister to fast-track the process and see if an intake at the University of Limerick is possible. That would greatly improve the situation. Many more students at second level will now be able to aspire to entry to medical school.