I again today raise an issue I have raised previously and on which Senator Mary White has proposed legislation, namely, mandatory retirement in the health service. I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues that a critical person in a specialty in Ireland has reached the age of mandatory retirement and will retire in three weeks time. I had occasion recently to speak to this fine gentleman - I will not mention his name today, although he may wish me to do so in the next week or two - at which time he pointed out to me that he was as productive as he ever was, took part in as many international meetings as he had ever done and was writing as many papers as he ever did. According to him, the hospital is having trouble finding a replacement for him and attempts are being made to replace him with two people, one of which positions remains unfilled. It is a disaster. This man does not want to retire and we need him not to retire. This perfectly fit, healthy, able and incredibly well trained, talented and well recognised international specialist is being forced to drop his tools and become a dependant on the State. There is an urgency about this matter. We have heard in the past of the difficulty filling specialist posts in hospitals, medicine and other areas.

That is, perhaps, an issue more suitable for discussion as a Commencement matter.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for his advice. This is a matter of which legislators need to be aware. This is not an arcane, theoretical issue of some far distant public policy. Three weeks from now this country will be down one critically important specialist who has not as yet been replaced.

I take the opportunity to comment on the recent, sad loss of Dr. Mary Redmond, founder of the Irish Hospice Movement and an extraordinarily accomplished woman. In addition to her many professional achievements, when she saw a huge gap and need in the development of palliative and hospice services in this country, rather than just wringing her hands about the problem she did something about it. I pay tribute to her and offer my sympathy to her family. She did this country an extraordinary service.