Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Is it acceptable that five years after the Government's health strategy which promised a new consultants' contract talks leading to it have not even begun? What is the Tánaiste's view on this? Gabh mo leithscéal, I meant former Tánaiste. Will she acknowledge that this Government, of which she is an integral part, and a succession of other Governments, have allowed an elite in the medical profession to enjoy a position of privilege unrivalled by any other sector in society? Will she accept that her initiative of private hospitals being developed in public lands adjacent to existing public hospital sites is undermining the Government's negotiating position with the consultants' representatives? Only yesterday, this was demonstrated by a spokesperson from the Irish Medical Organisation, Mr. George McNeice. He asked why the Government will proceed to deal with category 2 contracts while allowing for the development of new private facilities adjacent to public hospital sites.

What are the Minister's plans to stand up to these vested interests which perpetuate a piggybacking off our public health care system for their personal greed? The people want to know what she intends to do about it.

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