Mr. Jim Breslin:

There was full discussion of the GP contract at Cabinet. A mandate was put in place for management to table not just the approach to the talks but what we want to get out of them. We have been given riding instructions on the type of money that is available to try to conclude a deal. I will not say what that is and we have not told the other side what it is. We have a substantial sum to get the type of reform to GP services and an enhancement of those services that everybody wants, including the recommendations in the Sláintecare report. We have engaged with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, and have put that position. It has gone away to consider it. Its preference is that we would unwind the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation and hand back all fee reductions that have taken place. Our preference is to address that but we also want to get an enhanced contract that delivers chronic disease management and a range of other objectives. The talks have initiated and they are-----