Senator Darragh O'Brien and many other Senators expressed their deepest sympathy to the Ryan and O'Connor families following the dreadful tragedy which occurred in Baltimore yesterday. As Senator Denis O'Donovan, a resident of the area, said, it was a freak accident caused by a freak wave, for which no one could legislate. Our hearts go out to the families concerned and we all pray that God will console them in their grief in the days ahead.

Senator Darragh O'Brien and a number of other Senators referred to people who required pancreatic transplants and others who had experienced problems following such transplants. Senator Cáit Keane pointed out that a consultant post had been advertised on several occasions in the past year and that a suitable candidate had not been found to fill it. The health service is not attracting a sufficient number of consultants. Senator Colm Burke said information he had received recently indicated that there were 300 consultant posts vacant. Some of these positions are currently covered by locums. The Minister for Health will have to address the serious problem of the continued failure to attract consultants to the health service. It is not possible to pluck surgeons out of the air.

I am aware of that, but they are not being given priority.

I am surprised that the Senator has not sought to raise the issue in a Commencement debate, as I am aware that he has written to the Minister about it. I suggest he seek to raise it in a Commencement to ensure all relevant information is provided by the Minister.

I will receive the same answer. I want action.