Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the Deputy's commitment to general practice and pleased that we could collectively make some progress on the issue. Being very blunt, there is an issue with consultants' pay. How we resolve it requires the Government's collective thinking. Quoting from memory, the Public Service Pay Commission was clear that there should be a process in place to consider the issue. The decision is not mine alone, but I intend to engage with the Government more broadly on it in the coming weeks to see how we can respond. As I said to the Chairman, I have had some meetings recently with the IHCA, the IMO and individual consultants. I cannot go further than that today as there is no agreement. It would be a new pay agreement.