Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

The phrase in question did not come from the Department of Health and Children. It came from the specialist advisory committee. In fairness, there were six consultant positions in Ireland when approval for the training programme was withdrawn. As there are now nine such positions, we are in a different situation as we try to get specialist approval for a training programme. The increase in the number of consultant posts over the past three years should help us to make that case. We are moving to a model that involves more consultants and fewer non-consultant doctors. We will examine the important points that are being made in the debate. I assume that the increase in the number of consultant posts will make it possible to reconsider the situation.