Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

GPs are concerned the Government will unwind the FEMPI legislation as part of the contract negotiations. We all know that in a new world of integrated primary care the role of the GP will become more prominent, more important and better funded but much more will be asked of them. It is fair to say that while there was a quid pro quoin the unwinding of the FEMPI legislation for teachers, nurses and civil servants, there was not such a substantial rethinking of their roles, as teachers, educators or nurses. GPs will be entering a different conversation because their fundamental role in the community will change and become more prominent. The fear is that the new contract could take several years to negotiate - it may well do - and that the FEMPI legislation may not be unwound until it is in place.

This is why I asked that as a gesture of good faith, the beginning of an unwinding of FEMPI might be considered very quickly. For example, will the Minister consider putting a budgetary allocation in for 2019 as a partial unwinding of FEMPI for GPs?

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