Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I am not asking the Tánaiste to throw in the towel in any negotiations. I am asking her to tell the House whether she has no hope of renegotiating, or has failed to renegotiate the, consultants' contract or whether there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Given that nothing has happened in the past three years, are we talking about another nine years before we move forward and see these changes? These changes are fundamental and will affect every aspect of hospital services, yet we have not moved one inch in the past three years since this report was published. Rather than criticise me and act like an innocent bystander in all this, the Tánaiste should tell the House if we are getting anywhere on these issues. If we are not, she should tell the House.

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