Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she proposes to introduce changes to the current statutory and contractual definition of hospital consultant as meaning a registered medical practitioner who, by reason of their training, skill and experience in a designated speciality, is consulted by other registered medical practitioners and undertakes full clinical responsibility for patients in their care, without supervision in professional matters by any other person; the implications of the definition on her proposals to introduce a consultant delivered rather than a consultant led hospital service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2827/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Negotiations with the Irish Hospital Consultants Association on a new medical consultants contract were successfully concluded on 25 January 2008. The issue of the role and definition of a consultant was the subject of detailed discussion during negotiations. Agreement was reached on the terms and conditions from which an employment contract for consultants will now be drafted.

The agreement will enable the HSE to recommence its consultant recruitment programme and will facilitate the implementation of Government policy to increase substantially the number of consultants in the public health services in order to re-balance the ratio between consultant and non-consultant hospital doctors and to move to a consultant delivered service, where patients in public hospitals will be seen and treated by a consultant.