Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his answer and I hope what he has outlined will happen. Some ten months have passed since I raised the issue and it seems that, from the response of the Minister of State, we are getting some action. Is it not a shame it took so long to get consultants to pull into line? More than 2,200 consultants work in public hospitals. They use beds for private patients and draw down enormous salaries from private practice with questionable practices. Are their incomes subject to PRSI? We must examine the practices and methods of consultants in our public hospitals.

I welcome the payment systems outlined and we must wait and see if they are delivered upon. This is very unfortunate. Shame on the consultants that the Government had to go to such lengths to ensure the income stream and cashflow of our hospitals were guaranteed. These men and women walk the corridors of the hospitals and see the shortfall in income yet they delayed on signing off on significant sums that would make a substantial difference to the hospitals of the State. I welcome the response. I will be monitoring the topic closely and I will check whether the target of 14 days is achieved. I will seek further information on the practices of consultants in the public hospitals service. I want to see this saving and cashflow delivered quickly.

See this speech in context