Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2004
88 Mr. Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the long overdue renegotiation of the consultants’ common contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31723/04]
View answerDuring 2002 and 2003, a series of meetings took place between management and the medical organisations to resolve the outstanding issues from the consultants' common contract. These negotiations resulted in the introduction of a revised grievance and dispute procedure for consultants.
In 2003, preliminary talks were held between management and the medical organisations to discuss forthcoming negotiations on the new contract. Unfortunately, the opposition of these organisations to the extension of the clinical indemnity scheme to cover claims against consultants led to a decision by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association not to participate in further negotiations with effect from 1 February 2004, which has resulted in talks on a new contract being stalled.
I am anxious to break the deadlock that has arisen, and I have continually indicated to the consultants that I am available to sit down with them to discuss a new contract in tandem with those issues that are of particular concern to them in relation to the clinical indemnity scheme. In this respect, I met again with the association last Wednesday where I sought to link the negotiations on the new consultants' contract with the resolution of the medical indemnity issues. I regret that the association indicated that it wishes to resolve the indemnity issue before it will agree to negotiate a new contract. I intend to meet again with the association soon to move beyond this impasse.
