Psychiatrists reject Harney plea on tribunals

A ROW between psychiatrists and the Health Minister worsened yesterday as they rejected her Christmas appeal to take part in new mental health tribunals.

The Irish Hospital Consultant’s Association (IHCA) effectively told Minster Mary Harney to get lost until such time as psychiatrists are paid their dues under the Sustaining Progress partnership programme.

“The secretary general of the Department of Health has acted outside of the terms of Sustaining Progress by withholding the 1.5% salary increase to consultant psychiatrists,” said IHCA secretary general Finbarr Fitzpatrick.