Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I am delighted he has stated he is open to full and meaningful negotiations with the IMO because that is what the doctors are looking for. I stress that they are not looking for consultation. I accept there is no doubt that we will improve population health if we have universal health care but only if we have the doctors to serve the patients. I take from the Minister of State's reply that he wants the doctors to co-operate. In the UK NHS system it could take seven days to get an appointment for free GP care for a child. That is not what we want to happen here because it would make a nonsense of the plan. I will take the Minister of State's reply in good faith. That information certainly had not trickled down to the doctors in Galway a week ago. I look forward to hearing that meaningful negotiations took place.