Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Regarding negotiations under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission, LRC, with non-consultant hospital doctors, I understand that good progress has been made. On the wider contract issue, we clearly wish to shrink the number of non-consultant hospital doctors and increase the number of consultants. I have received a very favourable reaction from many consultants to the concept of a public-only contract. I have met an amazing number of people who have said that they thought it a very good idea. Quite a number of category one consultants in particular may well opt for that contract.

Unfortunately, consultants are unhappy because of two issues, one being to do with pricing the new contract through the review group on higher pay on the same basis as other public service jobs. They want it priced through the talks process and negotiation. The other issue on which there is dispute is the decision of the HSE board to stop appointing category two consultants who can work on several different hospital sites, something not very satisfactory from a patient or hospital perspective.

We urgently need the new contract in place. I intend for it to have a five-year review clause or something of that kind. Our having a current contract or contracts with no review clauses puts the State and health service in a very vulnerable position. As I said, that contract is clearly for their working lives, but either side could break it. However, there would be financial consequences in doing so. It would be better if we could negotiate a new contract. I certainly hope that we can introduce new consultants to the Irish health care system on a public-only contract very soon.

I was recently in Canada regarding cancer services and met quite a few excellent Irish doctors heading services there. There is a great deal of Irish expertise overseas that I would love to attract back to our health care system. Many of them would return if we could provide an appropriate contract of employment and substantially increase the numbers of people in different areas.

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