John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the co-location of public and private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals is dependent on the negotiation of a new consultants' contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29578/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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A new Consultants' Contract is a key element of the Government's health reform programme. The HSE-Employers Agency has been attempting to restart the stalled negotiations with the medical organisations for some time. Contact is being maintained with the Chairman, Mark Connaughton, S.C., in an effort to find a basis for a resumption of negotiations.

Meanwhile, the initiative to have private hospitals built on the campuses of public hospitals is progressing apace. The Health Service Executive is currently engaged in a procurement process to select suitable candidates to build and operate private hospitals on 10 public hospital sites.

I would expect that issues relating to the right of Category I Consultants to practice in the new private hospitals will be an important item on the agenda when the contract negotiations resume.