Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept that there is a need for a continuing dialogue and a discussion between the Minister for Health and GPs. The Government's focus is on shifting the emphasis towards primary care. That is why we are spending very significant capital resources on building new primary care facilities and improving facilities for GPs. That has happened in towns around the country and in the cities as well. In respect of the added pressures on GPs, our focus has been primarily on trying to deliver better patient outcomes so that parents can afford to bring their children to the GP at an early stage of sickness to avoid more complex and more expensive medical treatment being required. We continue to be committed to that policy. Affordable primary health care provision through a GP-led service is a major pillar of healthcare policy for this Government. I believe most people in this House support that. The financial arrangements to unwind the impact of FEMPI on GPs is a matter for negotiation between GP representatives, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Finance. I am not going to make clear commitment while that negotiation continues.

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