Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Devlin for raising this issue. A cornerstone of the Sláintecare policy is that we move towards public activity in our public hospitals. As Deputy Devlin knows discussions have been under way for quite some time between the HSE and the Department of Health with the relevant bodies, namely, the IMO and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association. I have been briefed as to the current state of play. The Cabinet committee has also discussed the matter. Discussions are now at a very advanced stage. We hope there will be a successful outcome because we want to move ahead with the new contract that gives primacy to the treatment of public patients in our public hospitals.

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