A fresh round of talks aimed at agreeing a new contract for hospital consultants is due to get underway this morning.

The leadership of the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association has denied claims by the head of the HSE that it is out of touch with its members.

HOSPITAL consultants have warned that the Tánaiste’s threat to start unilaterally recruiting hospital consultants under ‘public only’ contracts “won’t become a reality.”

HOSPITAL consultants will not be reimbursed for treating private patients in public hospitals under Government plans to co-locate public and private facilities.

Hospital consultants have warned that our health service is facing an overcrowding crisis.

The Irish Hospital Consultants' Association has joined the Irish Nurses Organisation in condemning the Taoiseach's attempts to play down the A&E crisis.

The Irish Hospital Consultants' Association is due to begin balloting its members today on possible strike action due to a long-running row over insurance cover.

A union representing hospital consultants is to hold a special meeting later to discuss possible industrial action.

A HOSPITAL consultant is facing a malpractice hearing with the possibility of no insurance cover despite having paid his dues.

ELEVENTH-HOUR talks will take place today at the Labour Relations Commission in a bid to settle the long-running row over hospital doctors' working hours.

HOSPITAL consultants yesterday called for an independent facilitator to head up talks to resolve a crisis over medical insurance cover.

HOSPITAL consultants have called off next week's planned industrial action following a plea for peace talks with the Health Minister Mícheál Martin.

RELATIONS between the Department of Health and the country’s consultants have grown steadily worse since a Government-commissioned report on health reform last year recommended the renegotiation of the consultants’ contract.

Hospital consultants are meeting with Health Minster Micheál Martin today in a last-ditch effort to resolve the dispute over insurance.

OVERCROWDING at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin reached new levels yesterday when ambulance trolleys had to be used to accommodate patients in the A&E department.

The Irish Hospital Consultants' Association is to engage in industrial action in protest at the Government's decision to press ahead with a medical indemnity scheme above the heads of doctors.