Consultants seek over 10% pay rise

HOSPITAL consultants are due to seek pay increases of well over 10% from the State, arguing that their pay rates have dropped significantly in comparison with similar professional ranks.

They met yesterday to discuss their final submission to the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, which set a deadline of today for receipt of all pay claims.

“The 10% was seen as an interim measure as we were due to negotiate our contract with the department but those negotiations never took place. We’ve been waiting for these talks for three years now,” Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) secretary-general Donal Duffy said.