Racing: Ireland's racecourse doctors yesterday complained that they have not received as much as a letter of acknowledgement from the racecourses over their pay demands.
The Racecourse Medical Officers Association repeated their threat to bring the sport to a halt on April 6th if their concerns are not addressed by the Association of Irish Racecourses.
At least two doctors have to be on duty for racing to take place and the RMOA say the costs of covering their practices while on racecourse duty, as well as an increasing age profile, make the present situation unworkable.
"We have not even had a letter of acknowledgement, that's how bad it is. We would have thought, given the urgency of the situation, the AIR would have called an e.g.m. but we haven't heard an iota which is quite amazing," said the RMOA secretary, Dr Adrian McGoldrick. He added that while a meeting of the AIR may be scheduled for Friday, earlier discussions between the two sides could have averted a clash.
"The last thing any of us want is to harm racing but we are doing this to get a response. We have not had one concrete proposal since October. If one proposal had come in the last six months it wouldn't have come to this.
"No one is looking for profit in this and no one is looking to blackmail anyone. But with an ageing profile and no proper remuneration there is going to be a crisis down the line."
The AIR spokesman Frank Smyth confirmed that the organisation's a.g.m. will be held on Friday but declined to comment on the pay issue ahead of that meeting. "Arrangements have been made to have it on the agenda on the 21st and it will be discussed," he said.
The RMOA are looking for a close on 50 per cent increase for a day's racecourse duty, bringing the rate up to a500. This is necessary, they say, to take account of locum costs and to encourage potential doctors to join the association and not lose out financially in the process. McGoldrick also declared a larger forum, consisting of the Turf Club and Horse Racing Ireland to look at the future of racecourse medical cover, would be desirable.
