David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1426. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to put in place a new public-only consultant contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29071/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government, as provided for in the Programme for Government, is committed to introducing the Sláintecare 2022 public-only consultant contract in a timely manner. A new consultant contract is a key step in the move towards universal, single-tier healthcare, with public hospitals exclusively used for the treatment of public patients.

Last July terms of reference for the negotiations process were agreed with the representative bodies under an Independent Chair. My Department, in conjunction with the HSE, commenced engagement with the representative bodies, the IMO and the IHCA, on the new contract last autumn and talks continued up to Christmas.

I am committed to the negotiations recommencing as soon as possible under a new Chair. I recently met with the IHCA and the IMO concerning this. Following on from this meeting, officials of my Department and the representative bodies are in discussions on recommencing the process.

When the date of implementation of the new contract is set, this contract will apply to all consultant appointment offers from that date.