I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 5 and 17 together.
The Labour Court, in Recommendation No. 11840, issued on 4 May 1988 recommended inter alia that, as a means of reducing the hours which non-consultant hospital doctors are required to work, the aim should be to ensure that all rosters are for not more than 65 hours per week on average. This recommendation was accepted by management and by the Irish Medical Organisation. This commits the Irish hospital system to significantly shorter working hours than is being aspired to in the UK hospital service.
Since the recommendation was issued, management, consultants and non-consultant hospital doctors at local level have engaged in discussions to draw up rosters which adequately reflect the service requirements in each hospital and in the light of the recommendations for the 65 hour week. Agreements have been reached in a number of areas and rosters implemented. Where disagreement has been recorded, a monitoring committee, consisting of representatives of management and the Irish Medical Organisation with an independent chairman have been examining such cases in detail and making appropriate recommendations.
I am satisfied that implementation of the Labour Court recommendation will result in a significant reduction in the hours being worked by non-consultant hospital doctors and a considerable improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of medical care available in our hospitals.
I am aware of the views expressed by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland concerning the training implications of a 65 hour week for non-consultant hospital doctors. I would point out that the monitoring committee have, in a number of cases, recommended payment for hours in excess of 65 where there is agreement on all sides that the introduction of a 65 hour week would not be practical. I feel that this is a reasonably flexible approach and represents a realistic solution to the difficulties, which the college foresees in relation to surgical training.