The row over doctors' insurance which led to a strike threat by hospital consultants has resurfaced after insurer, the Medical Defence Union (MDU), withdrew from talks with the Department of Health.
The MDU accused the department of dragging its heels in talks over new arrangements for cover after a system called enterprise liability was introduced in February.
Negotiations on issues of substance have yet to take place. In the meantime the MDU continues to spend other members' subscriptions in paying obstetric claimsDr Michael Saunders, MDU chief executive
Cover for the historic liabilities of obstetricians, in particular, cannot be guaranteed because more lucrative premiums have been lost under the new scheme, the MDU says.
It accused the Department of not intending to "agree a solution" to the issue over the two years of talks between the parties.
Dr Michael Saunders, MDU chief executive, said the talks were agreed to in February in order to avert a strike threatened by consultants but the "pace has been frustratingly slow".
"Negotiations on issues of substance have yet to take place. In the meantime the MDU continues to spend other members' subscriptions in paying obstetric
claims," Dr Saunders added.
The union has written to it members advising them that it may continue to assist them in the event of a claim but that it cannot guarantee cover.
It can take years before negligence cases against obstetricians are made and Irish courts often make awards amounting to millions of euros because the plaintiff is making a claim relating to care before or during birth. Compensation is often high because the plaintiff is often left dependent on others for the rest of their life.
The Department says historic liabilites could amount to €400 million.