Bernard Allen
Ceist:367 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement in relation to his discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation on the common contract.
Written Answers. - The Common Contract.
The Deputy will be aware that I initiated discussions on a review of the common contract in September 1987. An agenda of issues to be covered was agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation. Agreement was reached in June 1988 with the organisation on the scheduling of consultants' commitments. Despite this agreement, the organisation subsequently instructed members not to proceed to agree or record their specific schedule of commitments at local level. When it became clear that a satisfactory solution to this issue could not be reached, the Government decided in May 1989 that the review of the common contract and other arrangements appropriate to consultants, including remuneration, should be referred to the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. The matter will be further considered in the light of the review body's report.