Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 137: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress in the renegotiation of the common contract for consultants in order to deliver equity in hospital care for public patients; the contingency to deliver on this commitment if the process continues to be delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23804/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Preliminary talks were held in 2003 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 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 resulted in the commencement of talks on a new contract having to be deferred.

I am pleased that the substantive difficulties which consultants had with the establishment of the clinical indemnity scheme have now been dealt with. The Government has also given a commitment to defend the interests of consultants left without assistance by the MDU. I am confident that the medical organisations will re-enter negotiations with the Health Service Executive on a new contract for hospital consultants at an early date.