asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure that the staff working in the Mater Hospital, Dublin, will be allowed to operate a career-break scheme as introduced by the Government which has been made impossible because of management's decision to leave all posts vacant for three months before appointing a substitute.

I understand that the Mater Hospital have rescinded their decision to leave posts vacated by persons on career breaks unfilled for three months. Such vacancies will in future be filled as soon as practicable.

Is the Minister specifically referring to consultant posts in this case and, if so, is it not a fact that Comhairle na nOspidéal have a statutory function in relation to the filling or replacing of these posts, not the Department of Health?

I was not referring particularly to consultant positions. It was originally a policy decision of the Mater that all vacancies should be left unfilled for three months but they have now changed their minds in that regard. I do not think it ever applied to consultant posts.