Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 131: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she will take to ensure the renegotiation of the consultants' common contract to deliver equity of access for public hospital patients; if she will support the Health Service Executive in proceeding with the appointment of consultants on a public hospital service only basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27727/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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A new Hospital Consultants' Contract is a key element of the Government's health reform programme. It is management's intention that the new contract will be underpinned by the principle of equity. In this context, 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 proposals include a commitment to public sector service alone. The implementation of the proposals tabled by management in relation to the consultants' contract will ensure that patients' access to care and the speed at which care is delivered will be determined only by clinical need. The HSE-Employers Agency has been attempting to restart the stalled negotiations with the medical organisations for some time, most recently last week. Contact is being maintained with the Chairman, Mark Connaughton, S.C., in an effort to find a basis for a resumption of negotiations.