Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to the contract with consultants in public hospitals; the amount of remuneration payable; the number of working hours per week involved; and the other main contractual provisions applying. [37280/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The current consultant contract dates from 1997. The basic salary for a hospital consultant currently ranges from €139,551 (Category 2 in HSE Eastern Regional Area) up to €181,478 (Geographical Wholetime Consultant without Fees). Consultants are contracted to work for 39 hours per week comprising 11 three-hour clinical sessions and two three-hour administrative sessions. Talks on a new contract between the Health Service Executive, my Department, the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association commenced in November 2005, continuing until February this year. They have resumed today on the basis of a formula presented to the parties by the independent chairman, Mr Mark Connaughton S.C. Issues of remuneration, working hours and other contractual provisions will fall for consideration during the negotiations.