Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can give a timeframe for the commencement but I will not give a timeframe for the conclusion. I would be an awfully bad negotiator if we got to that.

We need a new contract. GPs recognise it, the Government recognises it, every political party recognises it and the patients recognise it. We do not need an effort to put in place one big-bang new contract too be a static document for the next few decades. Primary care developments are moving at too fast a pace. We are operating off a contract that was originated 44 years ago. Both the body of work and timeframe that would be involved in replacing it with a new contract would be colossal.

The negotiations will commence this year, which gives a very narrow window of opportunity. I would like to take a phased approach to it. While it will be very difficult for GPs and the State to agree a big-bang approach to a new contract, we can make progress on a number of issues in an incremental timeframe. This year, I have made it clear that I would like a range of organisations to be involved. That is not with any preference. As a policy-maker, I should not care of which representative body a person is a member. I should be willing to engage with all GPs in the interests of all patients. Work is ongoing. My officials recently met the National Association of General Practitioners, NAGP, and the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, to try to work out the structure of the dialogue.