The Government is facing potential conflict in the country's hospitals in the New Year following confirmation by Minister for Health Mary Harney that she will begin recruiting consultants under a new "public-only" contract if she does not strike a deal on the matter with existing senior doctors within months.
In an interview with The Irish Times, Ms Harney set a deadline of "spring" for agreement on a new contract with consultants. She said that if this was not reached the Government would leave existing consultants with their current contract and move to appoint hundreds of new specialist doctors under revised terms and conditions which would include restrictions on private practice rights.
However, in a national circular sent to members in recent days the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) signalled that it would refuse to co-operate with any such recruitment programme.
Medical sources suggested this weekend that existing consultants could refuse to serve on interview panels or to shortlist applicants for new "public-only" posts.
Medical sources also questioned the practicality of consultants on two separate contracts operating side-by-side given the new requirements for team working in hospitals.
Ms Harney said that she was "not going to sit around all year trying to get something agreed".
"We will have to move on and appoint new people based on a new contract."