James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the new consultants contract; the date she will begin recruitment of consultants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11597/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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On 27 March 2008, the health service employers issued a comprehensive document to the IHCA and the IMO detailing the proposed terms and conditions of a new contract for consultants employed in the public health service. A copy of this document was also furnished to the independent chairman of the negotiations, Mr. Mark Connaughton SC, who, on 28 March, wrote formally to all the parties indicating that the document appeared to encompass the various matters dealt with by him during the course of the talks process.

The document was considered by both the National Council of the IHCA and the IMO last Saturday, the 29th March but a decision on putting it to a ballot of their respective memberships has been deferred for the time being pending clarification on a number of issues. The IHCA did acknowledge that considerable progress had been made last week and that it expected to be in a position to recommend acceptance of the proposals for new contractual arrangements in the near future.

Health service employers met representatives of the IHCA and the IMO yesterday and further meetings will take place over the coming days in an attempt to finalise matters. A positive development at yesterday's meeting was the agreement of both representative bodies to the advertisement of some 100 consultant posts, commencing next week. I welcome this development as the delay in filling posts in critical areas such as cancer care, neurology, rheumatology, respiratory care and mental health is having a detrimental effect on the development of much needed services.