Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken to ensure non-consultant hospital doctors' working hours are reduced and brought in line with working time legislation. [11767/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Report of the National Task Force on Medical Staffing, 2003 set out a detailed implementation plan for reducing NCHD hours to meet the requirements of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD). Its recommendations centred on the introduction of a consultant-provided service and the appointment of additional consultants under new contractual arrangements.

A national coordinator and support team was appointed, draft rosters and hours recording systems developed, and extensive work undertaken by health agencies at local level.

Training principles and advice on safe EWTD compliant rosters were provided to employers by the post-graduate medical training bodies and the Medical Council.

A National Implementation Group (NIG) was established in February 2005 to oversee the implementation of the conditions of the European Working Time Directive by co-ordinating the work of local implementation groups in nine pilot sites and assisting them to identify the measures needed to achieve EWTD compliance while maintaining safe patient care and high quality NCHD training. The Group is representative of major stakeholders including my Department, the Health Service Executive and the medical representative organizations. The NIG is expected to complete its work by the end of the year.

Intensive talks between management and the Irish Medical Organisation, under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission, on new contractual arrangements for NCHDs are due to resume in April.