Brendan Howlin
Question:2 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has in regard to the demand by junior hospital doctors for his Department to cover medical defence fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Hospital Doctors' Insurance Costs.
Joe Sherlock
Question:91 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will make arrangements to grant relief in insurance costs to junior hospital personnel.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 91 together.
I understand that a conciliation conference has been arranged for tomorrow, 12 July, at the Labour Court on this matter and I am hopeful that a satisfactory resolution can be found.
Is the Minister concerned about the acute anxiety in the medical profession in relation to junior hospital doctors? One national newspaper said that there has been a mass exodus of newly qualified doctors from this country. There is an acute shortage of Irish trained doctors in our hospitals and unless this matter is resolved the acute crisis, which it is acknowledged exists, will be very seriously exacerbated. What is the Minister's attitude to the resolution of this problem and what plans has he in this regard?
I do not accept the Deputy's statement; 72 per cent of Irish graduates get jobs in this country and half of the 28 per cent of Irish graduates who go abroad are non-nationals and are generally going back to their own countries.
Will the Minister accept that there is great pressure on junior hospital doctors, that defence fees are paid in respect of community care doctors and senior consultants in hospitals, and that it is reasonable to expect that the more junior doctors in the hospitals would not be treated less favourably than their senior colleagues?
As I stated previously at Question Time, I am certainly concerned about the rising costs of protection for the medical profession and it is being examined in another forum. In relation to the non-consultant hospital doctors, a conciliation conference is arranged for tomorrow and I am hopeful that there will be a settlement as a result.
Deputy Howlin rose.
Brevity is essential if we are to dispose of questions nominated for priority within the prescribed time laid down in Standing Orders.
Has the Minister examined the cost implications for the health service of covering the claim which the junior hospital doctors currently have before the Labour Court? Will he reveal to the House — roughly — the cost of conceding this claim?
I do not have that figure as the Deputy did not ask for it in his question.