Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There will be a recommendation on a decisive shift from hospital-based to community-based care, primary care and social care. Underpinning that shift will be a GP-led service in community and primary care and a new GP contract. This needs to be a radically new contract, as opposed to one that tinkers around the edges. Negotiating a new contract with only half the GPs is not good and will not yield a good outcome for the contract or the patient. We need the views of all GPs, not just a section of them. The Minister will repeat the errors of the past if he does not include all GPs in this contract negotiation. He needs to be courageous and decisive. In the context of the new health service we are proposing, it is very important to have a strong GP contract. It is a fundamental error not to include all GPs in that.