Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 207: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when negotiations on the new consultants' contracts will conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28959/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I welcome the recent statements from the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and the Irish Medical Organisation that they are willing to commence negotiations on a new consultant contract. While the HSE will obviously take the lead role on behalf of management in the forthcoming negotiations officials from my Department will of course participate in the management team and contribute to the process as required. I hope talks will be progressed through an intensive schedule of meetings with much work being done in the intervening periods. It should be possible to conclude this process within three months of commencement.