Talks get under way today between health service management and medical organisations in the latest attempt to agree a new contract for hospital consultants.
A spokesman for Minister for Health Mary Harney said last night that the talks were aimed at finalising an agenda for intensive discussions aimed at dealing with a number of outstanding issues.
The new talks are expected to deal largely with issues such as pay, a proposed cap of 20 per cent on private work carried out by consultants, private practice rights in accident and emergency departments, and new weekend working arrangements.
Health service management has offered salary scales of up to €216,000 per year for consultants who work exclusively in the public sector.
The talks will take place directly between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association and the Irish Medical Organisation. Senior counsel Mark Connaughton, who chaired the talks process on a new contract for consultants over recent months will not be involved.
Health service management and consultants have generally accepted the thrust of an outline of a new contract drawn up by Mr Connaughton last week.
Under this proposal, consultants would work 37 hours a week - they are currently contracted to work 33 hours - be rostered over an expanded day to work on site in hospitals between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and for five hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
