Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 28 Jun 1990

Vol. 400 No. 6

Written Answers. - Medical Defence Subscriptions for Consultants.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

45 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the total amount paid by his Department in each of the years from 1986 to 1989 inclusive and the projected figure for 1990 in relation to the consultant's common contract which requires his Department to pay approximately 90 per cent of the medical defence subscriptions for consultants; and if he proposes to renegotiate this undertaking during the course of discussions about the revision of the common contract.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I set out in the following table the information requested by the Deputy.

£ million

1986	1987	1988	1989	Projected amount for 1990
0.335	0.48	0.791	1.55	2.976

The Deputy will be aware that the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector have recently reported on the issue of consultants' remuneration and conditions of employment including the issue of reimbursement of medical defence subscriptions. I am now arranging for discussions between the parties on the basis of the recommendations in the report.