John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 117: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the findings of the Brennan report; when she intends to negotiate a new contract with consultants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18518/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It is my intention that the recommendations of the report of the Commission on Financial Management and Control Systems in the Health Service, or the Brennan report, relating to the treatment of patients in our public hospitals will be progressed in the context of the negotiation of a new consultant contract and I am anxious to get these negotiations under way as soon as possible. However, as the Deputy may be aware, it is over 12 months since preliminary talks were held between management and the medical organisations to discuss the commencement of negotiations on a new contract for hospital consultants. Unfortunately, the opposition of these organisations to the extension of the clinical indemnity scheme to cover claims against consultants has led to a decision by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, IHCA, not to participate in further negotiations pending a resolution of the issues involved. This has resulted in the commencement of talks on a new contract being deferred.

I am anxious to break the long-standing deadlock that has arisen, and I regret that the medical organisations continue to say that residual issues arising from the introduction of the clinical indemnity scheme, to cover claims against consultants and certain other industrial relations matters, be resolved to their satisfaction before they will agree to negotiate a new contract. Discussions are continuing with a view to resolving the former. I would emphasise that the root cause is the withdrawal of cover for historic liabilities of consultants by the Medical Defence Union. I have given the medical organisations an assurance that consultants who have been unreasonably left without cover will receive State assistance for a legal defence for any case that arises against them. This assurance has been endorsed by the Government. I view the fact that it proved possible to avert recent industrial action by the medical organisations in the matter as a positive development and in all the circumstances, I would be hopeful that the medical organisations will see their way to enter into negotiations with the Health Service Executive on a new contract for hospital consultants at an early date.