Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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253. To ask the Minister for Health the process he has put in place for consultation-negotiation of proposed new contracts between the Irish Medical Organisation and the Health Service Executive-Department of Health. [11362/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework.

As announced in the Budget, it has been decided to commence the roll-out of a universal GP service by providing all children aged 5 and under with access to a GP service without fees.

The implementation of this measure will require primary legislation. The necessary administrative arrangements will be made when the specifics of the legislation are known.

A public consultation process started on 31 January 2014 relating to the content and scope of a new GP contract to underpin the provision of GP care, free at the point of use, for all children aged under six years. I met with key stakeholders on 31 January - the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) – to brief them on Government policy concerning the introduction of a universal GP service without fees and in particular, on the first phase concerning children under 6 years.

It is my intention to meet with the GP representative bodies in the coming weeks for detailed discussions on the scope and content of the draft contract. This will afford them the fullest opportunity to raise any and all issues which they may have regarding the draft contract. It will also enable them to make their own proposals as to how the draft contract may be improved. Consequently, I have no doubt that there will be changes to the text of the draft contract following the consultation process.

On 27 February 2014, I wrote to the IMO stating that the Department and the HSE are fully prepared to engage meaningfully with them and are prepared to negotiate with them on all aspects of the scope and content of the proposed contract. However, the ultimate setting of fees must remain a matter for the Minister for Health, though there will be an opportunity for their input on this aspect, and on the fee structure, which it is proposed to address by means of a separate consultation process. I have formally invited the IMO to meet with the Department and the HSE to commence this process during this week or on another mutually agreeable date if this week does not suit.