IHCA condemns Harney’s three-week contract talks extension as ‘unrealistic’

HOSPITAL consultants have rejected the Government’s three-week extension to conclude talks on a revised work contract as a “totally unrealistic timeframe”.

Yesterday, the Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA) said Health Minister Mary Harney had fuelled tensions between health service employers and consultants by her repeated threats to impose a new contract should talks fail.

Ms Harney has warned consultants she will impose a new contract and appoint 300 new consultants to work under a revised deal if agreement is not reached by April 17. They will be appointed on an interim salary pending a review by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector.

IHCA general secretary Finbarr Fitzpatrick said the talks were taking place in a negative atmosphere generated by the minister. He also accused the minister and the HSE of being out-of-step in their approach to making sure the talks are concluded on time.

“In contrast to the minister’s timetable, the HSE seems to be totally unprepared for these long-awaited and long drawn-out negotiations. Plenary sessions have had to be cancelled or delayed due to their inability to produce documentation on time.”

Mr Fitzpatrick said they “remain to be convinced as to whether or not the HSE really wants a negotiated settlement or if the real agenda is the imposition of a contract and confrontation with consultants”.

“Indeed, confrontation seems to be the core industrial relations policy of the HSE,” he said.

March 27 had been set by the Health Minister as the date when “a final, conclusive report” on the talks would be presented to Government. However, with a number of contract issues unresolved, Ms Harney had to extend the talks timetable by three weeks.

Last night, a spokesperson for the minister said she had not threatened to impose the new contract, that it was a statement of Government policy when she said the new contracts would be introduced next month. He said the talks had already dragged on over 18 months and had been granted a three week extension.

By then, whether or not negotiations have concluded, the HSE will place advertisements seeking new consultants in line with Government plans to boost consultant numbers by 1,500. Talks to reach agreement on a new contract continue today.