Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Harty for his question. I acknowledge the contribution made by health contractors through reductions in their fees to addressing the unprecedented economic crisis faced by the State when successive Governments, prior to and after 2011, found it necessary, in the interests of the financial crisis facing the State, to make reductions to public sector pay and to fees. I want to acknowledge that those reductions have been painful and extremely difficult. I have talked to many GPs who have articulated, just as Deputy Harty has done, the huge difficulty that has posed in terms of the viability of their practices. I acknowledge that it is a challenge through which we need to work our way.

The Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, which was passed by this House at the end of last year, now allows the setting and varying of contractor payments on a non-emergency statutory basis. There is a new power now available to Government in respect of this, as passed by the Oireachtas.

It is my intention to put in place a new multi-annual approach to fees as part of the contract discussions currently under way in the first instance with the Irish Medical Organisation based upon health policy considerations and engagement with representative bodies.

As I said earlier, my Department and the HSE met the Irish Medical Organisation at the beginning of last month to set out the State's position on the general medical services, GMS, contract and on the issue of FEMPI.  The Department subsequently wrote to the Irish Medical Organisation to formally set out the proposals made at that meeting. This is a real opportunity for general practice to secure significant additional funding and to move to that post-FEMPI era if agreement can be reached.

In line with the long established approach to such processes, and by agreement of all the parties, including the GP organisation, I am not in a position to give further details while the discussions are under way but subject to the conclusion of arrangements in respect of GPs, my officials will examine the setting of fees for other contracted health professionals with any revision of fees also linked to contract discussions. We have started with general practice, after which we will examine the position regarding other contracted health professionals.

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