Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 89: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in the talks on the renegotiation of the consultants' common contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15482/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 186: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on progress to date in the talks on the renegotiation of the consultants' common contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15711/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 186 together.

As the Deputy is aware, talks on a new consultant contract commenced on 24 November 2005 under the independent chairmanship of Mr. Mark Connaughton SC. At that meeting, and a further plenary meeting in December, both the IHCA and the IMO indicated that they required a number of issues to be addressed before they could engage in substantive negotiations on a new contract.

While some of these issues remain unresolved, a position paper outlining proposals on a new employment contract for consultants working in the public health system was tabled by management at a plenary meeting on 26 January 2006. The medical organisations have not so far engaged in substantive discussions on these proposals. At a further meeting on 9 February the talks were adjourned.

While a further meeting between management and the consultant representative bodies has not been arranged, the independent chairman is maintaining contact with both sides with a view to arranging a formula to effect the resumption of substantive and intensive negotiations at an early date. I am anxious for the negotiations to be concluded within a reasonable timeframe and I have the utmost confidence in the chairman's efforts to achieve that.