Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Healy Eames mentioned the Competition Authority. The Irish Medical Organisation was involved with proceedings with the Competition Authority and that agreement is in the public domain. It relates to the way in which the IMO can work in future, and the agreement is in the public domain because it was the subject of High Court proceedings. The Minister has clarified that there is consultation with the IMO, and the Department and HSE is anxious that an agreement could be reached. In fairness to the Department and the HSE over the years, they have worked well with general practitioners and there is no reason why they should not work well into the future. As part of that working together, the Department and the HSE must take on board the concerns that GPs have, and I have no doubt that the Minister and the Department will take on board the concerns which were initially raised. It was unfortunate that the contract was published before consultation with the representative organisations of the GPs, and I am not sure it was the best way to deal with the matter. It caused problems and fear that there would be no going back in the terms of this contract. It was not the right way to deal with the issue and the Minister and the Department should take on board the mistakes made by putting this draft contract on-line at such an early stage, even before there was consultation with the IMO.

To clarify, the Competition Authority and the IMO have reached an agreement that is in the public domain. The Department is working within the terms of that agreement in trying to ensure we can get a contract with broad acceptance by the majority of GPs. Of course there will not be a contract agreed by 100% of people but the Department and the HSE are anxious for there to be full co-operation by all parties in the improvement of a comprehensive medical service, and particularly in trying to ensure the service is available for those under six. That is very important.