Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Sep 1944

Vol. 94 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Consultants' Petrol Ration.

asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware that honorary consultants to hospitals and sanatoria have been informed by officers of his Department that they are not permitted to use their petrol ration for the purpose of travelling to and from such institutions; and whether, in view of the valuable public services rendered by such honorary consultants, he is prepared to sanction the use of their petrol ration to facilitate them in carrying out such honorary medical service.

I am not aware that honorary consultants to hospitals and sanatoria have been informed by officers of my Department that they are not permitted to use their petrol ration for the purpose of travelling to and from such institutions.

Petrol and private motor vehicles have been allowed for the use of members of the medical profession in travelling on urgent and necessary visits to patients in cases where public transport is not available or suitable. These regulations apply generally to all members of the medical profession, and I regret I am unable to grant exceptional treatment to honorary consultants to hospitals and sanatoria.

I appreciate the importance to the community of the services of the members of the medical profession, including honorary consultants, and I have made provision, so far as the petrol supply permits, for their travelling requirements.

Does the Minister appreciate that it is not merely the use of their basic ration that is in question? Surely, if petrol can be used for pleasure purposes, the Minister should be able to facilitate gentlemen who are giving their services free to sanatoria? If they are to depend on public transport, it will mean that either their private practice will have to be sacrificed to a later portion of the day, or that they must give insufficient time to the patients in these institutions.

In so far as the members of the medical profession are concerned, they are no more entitled to petrol for the purpose of earning their livelihood than any other section of the community. They are allowed petrol for the purpose of performing urgent necessary duties to the public. In so far as they have these urgent duties to perform, they are entitled to use their motor vehicles for that purpose. In so far as their duties are not urgent, or can be discharged by means of the public transport available, they are expected to avail of the public transport services.

Barr
Roinn