Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 5, to delete lines 33 to 40 and substitute the following:“(8) (a) The Minister may define the manner in which consultations under subsection (5) are to be conducted and, in doing so, shall have regard to any agreement entered into between the Minister and representatives of relevant medical practitioners relating to the conduct of consultations under that subsection.

(b) The Minister or, as the case may be, the Health Service Executive shall conduct consultations under subsection (5) in the manner defined under paragraph (a) and with such representatives of relevant medical practitioners or otherwise as the Minister or, as the case may be, the Health Service Executive considers appropriate, and nothing in the Competition Act 2002 shall prevent participation by the Minister, the Health Service Executive or any such representative in such consultations, or the communication and discussion of the outcome of such consultations by the representatives with the relevant medical practitioners they represent.”.

Section 5 provides for the insertion of sections 58B and 58C into the Health Act 1970. Section 58C provides that the HSE would be entitled to enter into a contract with any suitably qualified and vocationally trained general practitioner for the provision of GP services to all children aged five years and younger. Subsection (2) provides that the contract shall specify the services to be provided by the GP. Subsection (3) empowers the Minister for Health, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to fix the rate of fees and allowances to be paid to GPs for services provided under these contracts. Subsection (5) obliges the Minister, before making or varying a regulation, to engage in such consultations as he or she considers appropriate. In setting a fee under a regulation, the Minister is required to consider any submissions made and views expressed in the consultations under subsection (7).

Subsection (8), as published, allows the Minister to define the manner in which the consultations are to take place and expressly allows the Minister to consult with representatives of GPs. I propose to amend subsection (8) to ensure the Minister, in defining the manner in which consultations are to be conducted, must have regard to agreements entered into with representatives of GPs relating to the conduct of such consultations. In proposing this amendment I wish to ensure that the framework agreement concluded with the Irish Medical Organisation last month, which I signed on 4 June, will have the benefit of being referenced in law. This agreement with the IMO sets out a process of engagement on all aspects of the general medical services, GMS, contract with GPs, with due regard to the IMO's representative role and within the context of legislation underpinning the introduction of GP care free at the point of access. That engagement with the IMO has begun regarding the draft contract for the provision of services to all children aged five and under.

Under the framework agreement, the IMO can fully represent its members in respect of discussions around all aspects of this draft contract, including fees, and in relation to the GMS contract. As the IMO has stated, this agreement removes major obstacles to engagement between the IMO, the Department of Health and the HSE. The way is now clear for open and constructive discussions regarding primary care, which will lead to an enhanced GP service through universal GP care. The amendment, which I commend to the House, will further serve to facilitate this open and constructive discussion.

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