IHCA to resume talks on doctors' contracts

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has agreed to re-enter talks, on a limited basis, with the Government on a new contract for specialist doctors.

The national council of the IHCA decided on Saturday to engage in up to two meetings with the Health Service Executive (HSE) to determine whether agreement could be reached on issues which have held up negotiations for the last three months.

IHCA secretary general Finbarr Fitzpatrick said yesterday it was not going to enter into an endless series of talks about talks. He said the IHCA would meet on a maximum of two occasions with health service management on the understanding they had full autonomy to prepare the groundwork for real negotiations.

However, already there appears to be differences between the consultants and the Government over whether health service management will have full autonomy to deal with outstanding issues in the talks or whether they will have to refer matters back to the HSE board.

Senior health service sources told The Irish Times that Minister for Health Ms Harney had informed the IHCA management negotiators would have full autonomy, under the direction of the board of the HSE, to deal with the outstanding issues.

Talks on a new contract for hospital consultants have been stalled since February due to a row over whether payment for work practice changes should be determined within the talks or referred to an outside body.