Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While it has taken longer to negotiate a new GP contract than I would have liked, I should point out that we are discussing a contract that has been in place since 1989 and we are going to deliver significant reforms to general practice. Deputy Harty has been a strong advocate for this for a number of years as well. I believe the sequence we are following is correct. If a different sequence were put in place it would be a significant cause of concern for organisations such as the Irish Medical Organisation and possibly, by extension, the broader industrial relations mechanism in this country. We negotiate with the Irish Medical Organisation but I did say, and I stand by what I said, that we must have an inclusive process that enables other organisations to put forward their ideas. Incidentally, the NAGP has some very good ideas. The NAGP will be formally consulted and it received correspondence to that effect. I had a number of conversations with leadership figures in the NAGP, as I do with all stakeholders across the health service. They will hear about their opportunity to contribute to the process in the coming weeks.

My priorities have been, first, deciding the State's position for the contract negotiations and, second, getting that position endorsed by the Government. There is no point in it just being the Minister for Health's position as it is necessary to have the buy-in of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which I have now. Then there is an initial discussion in which we present the State's position to the IMO, which we have done, and then we provide an opportunity for other stakeholders, including the NAGP, to contribute.

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