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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 5

Written Answers. - Manpower Report Forum.

Bernard Allen

Question:

327 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the long delay in implementing the recommendations of the Manpower Report Forum; and the reason substantive manpower negotiations have not yet commenced with the representative bodies of the medical and paramedical groups. [25218/01]

As the Deputy is aware, the Government, in April this year, approved the establishment of a national task force on medical manpower to, inter alia, prepare and oversee the execution of a detailed implementation programme based on the recommendations in the report of the Medical Manpower Forum. The Government also decided that it would consider the proposed development of a consultant delivered public hospital service following quantification of the resource and cost implications involved.

Officials of my Department, in consultation with Mr. David Hanly, independent chairperson of the national task force on medical manpower, have been working on the draft terms of reference and working structures of the task force over the summer months, and I intend to proceed with the establishment of the task force and the holding of its inaugural meeting shortly.

The forum report sets out proposals for the structuring of consultant posts both in the context of changed work patterns and a consultant delivered service. A detailed quantification of the resource implications will now be undertaken. It is very important that this study produces detailed and accurate data on the number of staff and the costs involved.

Any industrial relations negotiations which may be necessary as a result of the work of the task force will be undertaken at the appropriate time and in the appropriate fora. In this respect, the Government has already approved the commencement of negotiations on a new contract for hospital consultants with the relevant medical organisations. Among the matters to be addressed are the core issues arising from the forum report and the report of the national joint steering group on the working hours of non-consultant hospital doctors, including flexibility and cover arrangements, teamworking and the issues highlighted in report No. 38 of the review body on higher remuneration in the public service.
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