John McGuinness
Question:114 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the fear being expressed by the medical profession that hospitals and or hospital services will close at the end of 2000 due to the lack of junior doctors; if he will encourage the extension of the time temporary registered non-EU doctors can stay here from five years to seven years as a part solution to the problem; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the situation nationally has now worsened and the numbers of hospitals which will be affected is far greater than anticipated; and if he will confirm that this is not part of an agenda to close smaller hospital units. [16835/00]