Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The Senators made some valid points. Many of the foreign students educated in our medical schools wish to return to their own countries to practise medicine. Moving the intern year to a postgraduate year may mean that many of them will complete their clinical placement or internship abroad and this could help ease some of the pressure for places in Ireland. I am of the view that our substituting foreign students with EEA and EU students — we cannot discriminate between Irish students and their counterparts from other European countries — and increasing the numbers from 325 to 745 over a period of years will be of assistance.

Senator Browne made a particularly valid point regarding the month's notice. It seems to take a long time for consultants to disengage from health systems and commitments to patients in other countries before they come here to take up positions they have been offered. I will discuss this matter with the HSE in the context of new contracts of employment. It would clearly not be possible to set aside existing contracts.