I refer to an issue with A Programme for a Partnership Government, in which there is a reference to new medical consultant contracts, in particular to the pay disparity that has developed between consultants who were appointed pre and post 2012, which is now at 30%. Consultants are working side by side and doing the same work but some are being paid 30% less. That has resulted in one in five consultant posts being vacant, so this is affecting every community and hospital in the country. It is impossible to recruit consultants and part of the reason for that is the pay disparity.

I would like to know the Government's view on this issue. Many countries facing similar problems have taken proactive actions to address the issue. What is the Government going to do to address it? It is leading to gaps in our service, longer waiting lists, as was mentioned this morning, and unmet need for our patients.

The Government's view is that it agrees with the comments of the pay commission that this disparity is having an impact. We would like to see it addressed. That has to be done on a phased basis because of the economic impact. We already have made very significant strides in addressing the issues affecting consultants' pay, with very significant investment in trying to bring that up to speed. We want to address the new consultants issue but it has to come on a step-by-step basis as we are addressing the nurses' and general practitioners' issues. We cannot do it all in one quick-fix solution. The Government has expressed its desire to see that issue addressed but we have to do it within the terms of the existing pay agreement. We cannot work outside that. We have to do it within the infrastructure that is available to us.

We have ten further Deputies offering. If we can be quick, we will get through everyone.