Madam, - It would appear to any neutral observer that the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association are getting a hard time from the Minister for Health and Children and the Government. The problem has been with the Department for 10 years.
Our 1,500 consultants save lives every day, work terrible hours, suffer appalling stress and have to put up with some shocking resources from successive governments. Many pay €100,000 per year for insurance cover. Consultant obstetricians are most vulnerable to multi-million lawsuits. I make no apology for giving them my total support.
I urge this Government to listen to the views of the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association. These people will still be saving lives when many of our Ministers move on to other matters. - Yours, etc.,
FINIAN McGRATH, TD, (Independent), Dáil Éireann, Baile Átha Cliath 2.