Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When I was contacted, I was advised that the MPS might withdraw from providing cover in Ireland - that occurred in Australia. A representative of that organisation telephoned me this morning to clarify that it did not intend to withdraw from providing insurance cover in Ireland. However, that also happened with the Medical Defence Union when it withdrew from Ireland, which left its own problems. We need to be careful on this matter. There is concern that any reduction in the level of services being provided in the private sector will result in the public sector having to pick up the pieces. We need to bear in mind that 41% of all elective surgery is done by medical consultants working in a private capacity. This needs to be given serious consideration given the pressures within the sector at the moment and given the number of consultant vacancies in the HSE.