Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the concern about developments in the past 24 hours involving the Irish Examiner Group. I am sure all Members will join with me in hoping that it can trade out of its current difficulties. While we might be critical of the media and they might be critical of us, they play an important part in the democratic process. As the main national newspaper in the Munster region, it is important that the Irish Examiner would continue to trade and provide vital information to our citizens.

On the issue of junior doctors, which I raise constantly, in 2011, emergency legislation was rushed through the Oireachtas to allow junior doctors be brought here from Pakistan and India. We gave them two year contracts under the supervised division process. It now appears that once their two year contracts finish, they cannot be re-employed by the Health Service Executive.

I raise a particular issue where some hospitals are having difficulties employing people. I know of one hospital which is employing a registrar through an agency, which means the HSE is paying double the money it would normally pay for employing a doctor. There is a person who is finishing his two year contract in a supervised division who would be suitable to fill that vacancy but, unfortunately, the HSE is not entitled to employ that person.

I am concerned that on 1 July we will have to rush emergency legislation through the Houses to deal with this issue. It is an issue that we need to examine now, long before 1 July, rather than being forced to deal with it in an urgent manner later. I ask the Leader to raise this matter with the Minister for Health, that he would have a detailed discussion with the HSE, and that on 1 July we would know where we stand in terms of ensuring that all the medical staff vacancies in all hospitals are filled to allow us provide the comprehensive health care service the people deserve.