Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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316. To ask the Minister for Health if he has met the groups representing general practitioners recently in regard to their contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26301/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the important role that general practitioners play in our health service and I recognise the commitment of GPs to ensuring a responsive, accessible and high-quality service to patients. The Government is committed to engaging with the representatives of GPs on the development of a package of measures and reforms to modernise the current GMS contract and which will enable additional resources to be put into general practice if agreement can be reached.

Officials from my Department and the HSE met with the Irish Medical Organisation on 9 May to set out the State's position in relation to the GMS contract and to progress this important issue. The Department also wrote to the Irish Medical Organisation on 14 May to set out the proposals made at that meeting in writing and is currently awaiting the Organisation's official response.

In line with the long-established approach to such processes, and by agreement of the parties concerned, I am not in position to give further details while discussions between the parties are under way.