Vol. 552 No. 1
305 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of the agreement between the Irish Medical Organisation and his Department which would bring about a rapid implementation of previous general practitioner agreements at the centre of the dispute; and his views on whether this agreement will avert a threatened dispute by general practitioners. [11223/02]
Agreement on the implementation of a number of outstanding issues, including payments in respect of services to discretionary medical card holders, non EU nationals, practice support staff, palliative care and bonus payments under the primary childhood immunisation programme, was recently reached with the Irish Medical Organisation. In light of a commitment given by the Secretary General of my Department on Friday 5 April that letters authorising payment would be issued to the chief executive officers of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the health boards and the GMS, Payments, Board, the Irish Medical Organisation withdrew their threat of industrial action. These letters were duly issued by my Department on Monday, 8 April 2002.
