Roisin Shortall

But that was a choice that that consultant made.

Do you know, it wasn't that that consultant was forced to go into the public arena.

It was a choice that they made.

But there are many other consultants available.

There are 18 consultants available in the Rotunda who can continue to do.

They can't get that particular consultant if that consultant has signed up to the new contract but that's something that the consultant has decided to do and that's the choice that the consultant made but there are many other consultants available to do private work.

But, you know, things you have to bear in mind, the Irish Health Service has been extremely dysfunctional, really unequal for many, many people who are depending on the public service.

OK, more than half the population who are.

And the scale of the waiting lists and the lack of access is

It's just not acceptable in a modern country.

I mean, we're completely out of line with the rest of Europe.

But people you say with private health insurance can jump the queue.

Well, I'm not couching it in those terms.

I'm saying that people who are dependent on the public health system are not getting a good enough service.

That's the start and end of the thing.

You know, the waiting lists are too long.

There's a lack of access.

Cost is a serious barrier to people.

Accessing, very often, life-saving care.

And that's just not acceptable in a modern country.