Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I confirmed in my reply that the Minister, Deputy Harris, met the representatives of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association last week. It has been accepted that there is a disparity in new-entrant pay for consultants and the Government would like to see it addressed. It has been acknowledged by the Public Service Pay Commission that the disparity is contributing to recruitment issues in the sector. As the Deputy is well aware, however, there is no pot of endless money there. There is also a public sector pay agreement within which we have to keep. We have already addressed the significant issues affecting the pay of consultants, notwithstanding the issue of new entrant consultants. That was an issue the Deputy was rightly making a great deal of noise about in the past. It has been addressed. Nursing pay is a very significant pay bill also. There is no endless pot of money and there is a sectoral agreement that has to be respected and worked within as we advance the issue. We have addressed issues for consultants and nurses and, over time, we will also address this issue. However, it cannot be done as one would flick a light switch. We must continue to work within the parameters of available budgets and the public sector pay agreement. In fact, we are continuing to do so and engaging to achieve it.

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